Hingis struggles through second round in Charleston

Hingis had a surprisingly difficult match against the qualifier, Bianka Lamade Keystone

Martina Hingis has struggled through the second round of the $1.2 million Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in Charleston, South Carolina. She overcame Bianka Lamade of Germany in two sets, but was taken to a tiebreak in the first.

In what should have been an easy match for the world number one, Hingis had a surprising upset against the German qualifier, who is 117 in the world rankings. She eventually prevailed in the first set, but not until Lamade had taken her to a tiebreak.

Hingis took control in the second, dropping only one game in a match beset by cold weather and violent winds.

Hingis, who received a bye in the first round, now faces either the American, Alexandra Stevenson, or Croatia’s Iva Majoli, who defeated her in the 1997 final of the French open at Roland Garros.

swissinfo with agencies