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Hingis heads for home with Filderstadt title secure

Hingis picks up another four-wheeled prize Keystone

Martina Hingis won't have any transport worries as she makes her way back to Switzerland for this week's indoor tournament in Kloten. On Sunday she left the Filderstadt tournament in Germany after winning her fourth Porsche in five years.

The tournament, which is sponsored by the German car manufacturers, has been a source of success for Switzerland’s world number one ever since she won her first ever WTA singles title there in 1996.

On Sunday Hingis was again unstoppable, blasting Belgium’s Kim Clijsters off the court in less than an hour. After winning the first set to love in just 19 minutes, Hingis eased up only slightly to complete her straight sets win (6-0, 6-3).

The 17-year-old Belgian was the first wildcard entry ever to reach the final of the Filderstadt tournament, but never looked close to completing the fairy tale against the in-form Hingis.

The Swiss player raced through her week in Filderstadt without dropping a single set and appears to be the overwhelming favourite for the Kloten tournament.

Hingis’s biggest rival for Switzerland’s biggest women’s tennis title will be America’s Lindsay Davenport following Venus Williams’ late withdrawal from the event.

Patty Schnyder and Emmanuelle Gagliardi will be the only other Swiss women vying for the $1 million (SFr1.7 million) prize money, after the talented teenager, Daniella Casanova, was beaten in the first qualifying round by Germany’s Jana Kadarr.

Gagliardi’s chances look particularly slim. If she can beat Australia’s Jelena Dokic in the first round, her only reward will be the chance to take on a certain Martina Hingis in round two.

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