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WORLD SPORT

Hingis puts Pennetta in her place

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Hingis sets the record straight with victory over Italy's Pennetta.

BERLIN, Germany -- Former world number one Martina Hingis defeated Italy's Flavia Pennetta 7-5 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the German Open in Berlin.

Hingis, currently ranked 23, exchanged service breaks throughout the match with the powerful Pennetta, but the 25-year-old Swiss player's accuracy and consistency carried the day.

The Swiss lost their only previous encounter in January in the semifinal of the Gold Coast event, the tournament that launched her comeback from a three-year hiatus.

"I quickly got to 4-1 but she is very good when she is behind and her game starts to come through," the five-times grand slam winner said.

"I was pretty nervous at the beginning of the year. This time I changed my tactics a little and it worked well."

Hingis, a winner here in 1999, is attempting to reach the tennis heights she scaled before being forced out of the game in 2002 due to foot injuries and burnout.

"It's a great feeling to be standing here again on this court. Today I am happy that I was able to gain revenge," she said.

Hingis plays German Julia Schruff on Wednesday, when current world number one Amelie Mauresmo of France and Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne are also in action.

"I have never played against her," Hingis said of Schruff. "She is very strong and I think it will be a similar match to today."

Safarova upset

Second-seeded Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic was upset in the first round of the Prague Open by Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 7-6 4-6 4-6 on Tuesday.

Rybarikova, ranked 285th, turned the wild-card into her first main draw on the WTA Tour into the biggest win of her career.

Her second-round opponent will be Venezuela's Milagros Sequera who defeated Kristina Brandi 4-6 6-4 7-5 for the first time since 2001 - ending three straight losses to the Puerto Rican without taking a set.

Safarova was the only seed to lose on Tuesday.

Fourth-seeded Emilie Loit of France beat qualifier Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-2 6-4 and fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia downed qualifier Natalie Grandin of South Africa 6-2 6-2.

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