Martina Hingis overcomes Sania

22 February, 2006

Martina Hingis overcame a stiff challenge from India's Sania Mirza to beat the teen sensation 6-3, 7-5 in straight sets in the first round of the Dubai Open tournament.

Hingis took nearly an hour and a half to beat Sania. "Martina is one player I admired and was really disappointed that she wasn't around when I started playing the tour", said Sania after the match.

Hingis was all praise for Sania. "She is not very big built and when she hits that forehand, you think 'Whoa! Where did that come from?'," Hingis said.