Martina Hingis @ Esurance Tennis Classic in L.A.

By proclamation, it was Brad Gilbert Day in Mill Valley on Saturday afternoon at the Esurance Tennis Classic at Harbor Point Club.

By presentation, it was Martina Hingis' show. She was the star attraction and she practically did the equivalent of an encore in front of about 500 fans at Vic Seixas Court. The five-time Grand Slam champion teamed with Mary Joe Fernandez to win a women's doubles match 5-4 in a tiebreaker against Conchita Martinez and Corina Morariu then lost in 5-4 in a tiebreaker with partner Murphy Jensen in a mixed doubles match against Morariu and Jan-Michael Gambill. Hingis also beat Martinez and radio personality Rich Walcoff of Corte Madera 5-2 in a celebrity doubles match with character actor Peter Jason.

Hingis feels the love at star-studded Marin exhibition

"I felt very protected. I had a safety net," said a grinning Jason, who is filming "Milk" in San Francisco with Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. "She was laughing and enjoying herself. It seemed like she really had a good time. Of course, I'm a grumpy guy. It's hard to ignore me."

All eyes were on Hingis, who had such a good time that the 28-year-old Swiss Miss would like a return engagement.

"I'd love to come back again," she said. "The crowd's out. The weather is beautiful. What more could we ask?"

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Every time I watch Hingis play I'm still amazed at how easily she can make a perfect volley or a smash at the net when there are so many players today who struggle with perfecting that for years.

It becomes especially astonishing if you consider the fact that she doesn't play profesionally anymore.

Then again, I guess that kind of god given talent, doesn't go away.