Dementieva stops Hingis in title match

TOKYO – Martina Hingis missed a chance for her first title in her comeback, falling 6-2, 6-0 to Russia’s Elena Dementieva today in the Pan Pacific Open.

The second-seeded Dementieva overpowered Hingis in the championship match at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium to win her first Tier 1 WTA Tour singles title.

Hingis, who retired three years ago because of foot, heal and ankle injuries, is a four-time winner in Tokyo. She last played in the tournament in 2002.

In her comeback attempt, Hingis won her first mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open last week after reaching the singles quarterfinals.

Hingis, who entered the tournament as a wild card, beat top-seeded Maria Sharapova in the semifinals Saturday, but got off to a sluggish start in the final and never found her game against the ninth-ranked Dementieva.

Hingis was broken three times in the first set and had a series of unforced errors.

The Swiss star had no answer for Dementieva’s powerful serves and returns.