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

    Chris Higgins And Eddie Lack Lead Canucks Past Kings In 2-1 Shootout Win

    Chris Higgins And Eddie Lack Lead Canucks Past Kings In 2-1 Shootout Win
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks are in the driver's seat heading down the home stretch of their regular season.

    Chris Higgins And Eddie Lack Lead Canucks Past Kings In 2-1 Shootout Win

    Robert Church Scores Five Goals To Lead As Rush Past Stealth 17-10

    Robert Church Scores Five Goals To Lead As Rush Past Stealth 17-10
    LANGLEY, B.C. — Robert Church scored five times and assisted on four more Saturday night as the Edmonton Rush beat the Vancouver Stealth 17-10 in National Lacrosse League play.

    Robert Church Scores Five Goals To Lead As Rush Past Stealth 17-10

    Whitecaps Enjoying Best Major League Soccer Start Ever After 2-0 Shutout Win Over Galaxy

    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps are enjoying their best Major League Soccer start ever but realize the real work is just beginning.

    Whitecaps Enjoying Best Major League Soccer Start Ever After 2-0 Shutout Win Over Galaxy

    96,000 Fans Show Their Love Of Baseball At Weekend Blue Jays Exhibition Games

    96,000 Fans Show Their Love Of Baseball At Weekend Blue Jays Exhibition Games
    MONTREAL — It was mission accomplished for Montreal baseball advocates as over 96,000 fans came out for two Toronto Blue Jays exhibition games at Olympic Stadium.

    96,000 Fans Show Their Love Of Baseball At Weekend Blue Jays Exhibition Games

    Montreal's Catherine Dufresne Wins Bronze Medal At Whistler Cup

    Montreal's Catherine Dufresne Wins Bronze Medal At Whistler Cup
    WHISTLER, B.C. — Catherine Dufresne of Montreal won the bronze medal in the women's giant slalom under warm and sticky snow conditions at the Whistler Cup alpine skiing competition on Saturday.

    Montreal's Catherine Dufresne Wins Bronze Medal At Whistler Cup

    Saina Nehwal Loses To Xuerui In Malaysia Open Semis

    World No.1 shuttler Saina Nehwal went down 21-13, 17-21, 20-22 in her women's singles semifinal to reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui at the $500,000 Malaysia Open Superseries Premier here on Saturday.

    Saina Nehwal Loses To Xuerui In Malaysia Open Semis