Hingis falls in final at Pan Pacific
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-05 15:03

Martina Hingis missed a chance for her first title in her comeback, falling 6-2, 6-0 to Russia's Elena Dementieva on Sunday in the Pan Pacific Open.

Elena Dementieva of Russia, left, and Martina Hingis of Switzerland shake hands over the net after their final match of the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006. Dementieva defeated Hingis 6-2, 6-0. [AP]

The second-seeded Dementieva overpowered Hingis in the championship match at Tokyo's Metropolitan Gymnasium to win her first Tier 1 WTA Tour singles title.

Hingis, who retired three years ago because of foot, heal and ankle injuries, is a four-time winner in Tokyo. She last played in the tournament in 2002.

Former world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland returns the ball to Russia's Elena Dementieva during their final match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo February 5, 2006. Dementieva won the match 6-2 6-0. [Reuters]

In her comeback attempt, Hingis won her first mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open after reaching the singles quarterfinals.

Hingis, who entered the tournament as a wild card, beat top-seeded Maria Sharapova in the semifinals Saturday, but got off to a sluggish start in the final and never found her game against the ninth-ranked Dementieva.

Hingis was broken three times in the first set and had a series of unforced errors.

The Swiss star had no answer for Dementieva's powerful serves and returns. When Hingis came to the net, the Russian player frustrated her with lobs that Hingis had no chance of reaching.