Hingis loses in 3rd round to Sugiyama

Martina loses on return to Centre court at Wimbledon

Mumbai
1:52 AM 7/1/2006

Martina Hingis was beaten in 3 sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 by Japan's Ai Sugiyama on her return to centre court.

After losing the 1st set 7-5 Martina promptly won the 2nd set and was 3-0 up in the 3rd when Sugiyama rallied to win the set 6-4.

A line call in the 5th game of the 3rd set went against Hingis, she disputed the call with television replays showing the ball clearly out. From that point on Hingis seemed to have lost steam and eventually went on to lose the set and the match.

The Swiss player seeded 12th this year was playing on Centre court since 2001.

Sugiyama seeded 18th also came from behind to win the 1st set 7-5. Hingis let the match slip which was well within her grasp.

This is not to say that Ai was not resolute in her performance. It was the first time Sugiyama had beaten Hingis in 6 previous meetings since 1996.

After her loss Martina said, "It's not like I didn't feel comfortable out there. There's no explanation right now for me."

"I played well, even in the third set. I had the momentum, I just couldn't finish it off. Sugi doesn't really have a weakness. She's a very good player. She's really strong on the baseline and her game's more effective on this surface. She's a tough cookie."