Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis Clinch WTA Finals Crown

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Nov, 2015 01:14 PM
    Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis came up with another stupendous performance on Sunday to win the women's doubles title of the prestigious $7 million WTA Finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium here and comprehensively underline their supremacy in the category.
     
    The top seeds took just an hour and seven minutes to rout Spanish eighth seeds Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3 in the summit clash. This is the Indo-Swiss combine's first year-ending title together though the 28-year-old Sania won the crown last year too with Zimbabwe's Cara Black.
     
    Sania and Martina, individually ranked the world's two highest doubles players, didn't lose a set, let alone a match, in the five ties they played in the tournament this week.
     
    "On court, off court, we have a lot of fun. To play in tournaments like this is what we've fought all our lives for and it's incredible to play in front of a packed stadium. We feel very fortunate. We've done some amazing things together and it's the perfect way to end the year for us," said Sania.
     
    This is the pair's ninth title together this season, having also won in Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, US Open (New York), Wimbledon (London), Charleston, Miami and Indian Wells. Their only loss in a final was at Rome.
     
    Sania also reached the final in Doha with Chinese Taipei's Su-Wei Hsieh and lost but won in Sydney with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands earlier.
     
    This is Martina's 50th WTA doubles title, a milestone only 15 players have reached yet. 
     
    The pair has been in such sublime form that they have now won 22 matches in a row, having last lost in August to Hao-Ching Chan and Yung-Jan Chan in Cincinnati.
     
    On Sunday, the first set saw the top seeds thrash the Spanish girls as they converted all the three breakpoints received to clinch all six games played in the set. 
     
    The only highlight for the eighth seeds was the one breakpoint opportunity they received, which was easily saved by Sania and Martina.
     
    The Indo-Swiss pair took the momentum into the second set. They broke the Spaniards once and won on their own serve twice to make it 3-0, winning all nine games played in the match till then.
     
    However, Garbine and Carla finally found some legs to break their opponents and make it 1-3.
     
    Later, serving to save the match at 2-5, the Spanish girls were 0-40 down, handing three matchpoints to Sania and Martina. The top seeds, however, wasted all the chances and had to wait till their own service game to seal the deal.
     
    "It's incredible. I feel like it was a perfect day. The energy was a bit better in practice and Sania just played out of her mind. She was everywhere today - on her side, behind me - it's about choosing the right partner," said Martina.
     
    Earlier in the week, the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champions had topped the red group of round robin to qualify for the semi-finals undefeated. They then beat the Chan sisters on Saturday to qualify for the summit clash.
     
    The WTA Finals is an annual event played by the top-8 players/pairs of the year who are divided into two round robin groups -- red and white. The top-2 of each group progresses to the semi-finals and the winners to the finals.
     
    The championship is generally considered the fifth most prestigious event on the women's tour after the four Grand Slam tournaments. It also has the largest prize money and ranking points after the Grand Slams.

    MORE Sports ARTICLES

    Vancouver Whitecaps Set To Host Real Salt Lake Before Long Road Trip

    The Major League Soccer club heads into Saturday's home game against Real Salt Lake with just two victories over its last eight following a blistering 4-1-0 start to the season. 

    Vancouver Whitecaps Set To Host Real Salt Lake Before Long Road Trip

    NBA's Boston Celtics Call India's Satnam Singh Bhamra For Training Session

    NBA's Boston Celtics Call India's Satnam Singh Bhamra For Training Session
    National Basketball Association (NBA) side Boston Celtics has called India's Satnam Singh Bhamra from Punjab worked for a training session.

    NBA's Boston Celtics Call India's Satnam Singh Bhamra For Training Session

    Son Of Lions' Grey Cup Winner, Maxx Forde, Looking To Make Impression Ahead Of Training Camp

    Son Of Lions' Grey Cup Winner, Maxx Forde, Looking To Make Impression Ahead Of Training Camp
    SURREY, B.C. — Maxx Forde was in the building when the B.C. Lions hoisted the 1994 Grey Cup. He just doesn't remember much of the game.

    Son Of Lions' Grey Cup Winner, Maxx Forde, Looking To Make Impression Ahead Of Training Camp

    Jordan Rodgers' Career With The B.C. Lions Is Over Before It Started

    Jordan Rodgers' Career With The B.C. Lions Is Over Before It Started
      The team announced Tuesday the quarterback won't attend training camp and that he doesn't plan on playing football in 2015.

    Jordan Rodgers' Career With The B.C. Lions Is Over Before It Started

    B.C. Lions Expect Veteran Quarterback Travis Lulay To Be Ready For Day 1 Of Training Camp

    The 31-year-old has been plagued by injuries to his throwing shoulder over the last two seasons, but head coach Jeff Tedford said Friday that Lulay should be good to go when veterans report next weekend.

    B.C. Lions Expect Veteran Quarterback Travis Lulay To Be Ready For Day 1 Of Training Camp

    Montreal Alouettes Sign Openly Gay Defensive End Michael Sam

    Montreal Alouettes Sign Openly Gay Defensive End Michael Sam
    The Montreal Alouettes signed Michael Sam because they believe he can be a star rush end in the Canadian Football League. His sexuality is a non-issue, as far as general manager Jim Popp is concerned.

    Montreal Alouettes Sign Openly Gay Defensive End Michael Sam