Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza Sydney International Champions!

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SYDNEY, Australia - Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza extended their winning streak to 30 matches in a row by edging Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in the Apia International Sydney final.

Hingis and Mirza, who already went into the match with the longest winning streak since Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova in 1990 - they won 44 in a row - were down and out against No.3 seeds Garcia and Mladenovic, falling behind 6-1, 5-2 to one of the craftiest, hardest-hitting pairings out there.

But the No.1-seeded Hingis and Mirza fought back like they've done so many times, reeling off five games in a row to push it to a match tie-break, where they would finally end it, 1-6, 7-5, 10-5.

"It was definitely a great test, and against a great new team," Hingis said afterwards. "They were playing together for the first time this week, and I think we're going to see a lot more of them.

"We had to take our chances. You don't see much light in a dark tunnel, but then we had one or two opportunities here and there, and with one little chance we were able to turn the match around."

"At 6-1, 5-2 the only thing we could say to each other was that it was only one break," Mirza added. "That's the only positive you can find from a situation like that. We tried to hold our serve for 5-3 to give ourselves another chance, then we had a huge game at 5-3 and the momentum went in our favor.

"We're really happy to win another tournament. We're really happy with the way we fought."

They now have 11 WTA doubles titles together: Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and WTA Finals last year, now Brisbane and Sydney this year.

The Swiss-Indian partnership is also an incredible 11-1 together in WTA doubles finals.

And the icing on the cake? On Monday, Hingis is projected to join Mirza as co-World No.1 on the WTA Doubles Rankings. It will be Hingis' first time at No.1 since the Indian Wells fortnight in 2000.

"I think it's another chapter in my career, definitely," Hingis said. "When Sania became No.1 in Charleston that was a huge stepping stone for her, and now for me, 16 years later, who would have thought I would have another opportunity to become No.1 again? It was a dream and now it's reality.

"But I've felt we're the No.1 team for a while now. It was just a question of time."

"Ditto!" Mirza added with a laugh.

wtatennis.com

Title #11 makes it 30 wins in a row!.  Next up, Melbourne & the Australian Open!.  Go Santina!

Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza Sydney International post semi-final interview

Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza survive, a record breaking 29 straight wins reach Sydney International Finals

SYDNEY, Australia - Top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza were trailing by a set and a break when rain interrupted their semifinal match with Yaroslava Shvedova and Raluca Olaru, but turned the tables upon resumption to win, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 to capture a 29th straight match.

Team SanTina have not lost a match since the Western & Southern Open late last summer, and the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champions have now surpassed Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva's 1994 record of 28 straight victories and have now begun to chase an even bigger record. Back in 1990, the dynamic duo of Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova won a whopping 44 matches in a row.

"This is something that I dreamed about and I was hoping for," Hingis told press after the match. "I can only say it over and over again: It's something that's a priority. When I was playing singles, singles was the priority. I became No.1 there. For a time, I was No. 1 in both.

"Now I put 100% or 120% into this, and I think I that's what makes us this great doubles team. The chemistry is amazing. We don't always play super tennis, but we come out and find a solution. I think that's what makes us right now the best doubles in the world."

"Today the girls we were playing, they were playing probably the best I've seen them play," Mirza added. "Slava has won slams before, and Olaru was playing really well. We had to really put everything that we had and really come out with our A Game when we needed to, especially in that supertiebreak.

"It's not like because we've been winning so much we take it for granted really. We try every time. We're the hunted. Everyone plays their best against us, and we have to keep playing our best as well to win."

With titles at the Apia International Sydney and the Australian Open, SanTina could move their streak up to 36 straight, and would likely need at least another two titles to come close to passing such an elusive record.

In the meantime, the top seeds will face the winner of the second semifinal between No.3 seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, and the No.2 seeds, Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan. The Chan sisters are the last women to defeat Hingis and Mirza together in Cincinnati, but have fallen to the pair four times since then.

wtatennis.com

Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza equal consecutive wins record at Sydney International reach semis

Sydney: Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continued their dream run of form, winning their 28th doubles match in a row after they overcame Chen Liang and Shuai Peng 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of WTA Sydney International semifinals with a straight set triumph.

The run of 28 consecutive wins equals the world record for the longest doubles winning streak since Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva won 28 matches in a row together in 1994.

Starting last year, Mirza and Hingis have won 10 WTA doubles titles together -- Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and WTA Finals in 2015, and last week's Brisbane International.

Top seeds Mirza and Hingis got the better of China's Chen Liang and Shuai Peng in less than an hour to enter the last-four stage and remain on course for a second successive title this year.

In a totally lop-sided contest on Wednesday, Mirza and Hingis broke their rivals twice and saved one on their own serve to pocket the opening set with ease.

Liang and Peng's weak serve ensured that the second set followed a similar course. The Indo-Swiss combine frittered away seven chances but converted two, which was enough to give them the set and the match without breaking much sweat.

Mirza and Hingis will next be up against the winners of the match between Timea Babos and Katarina Srebotnik and Raluca Olaru and Yaroslava Shvedova.

The seemingly unstoppable duo of Mirza and Hingis eased past Anastasia Rodionova and Arina Rodionova in the opening round of Sydney International to extend their winning streak to 27 matches earlier on Tuesday.

Doubles world number one Sania and Swiss great Martina mauled the Rodionova pairing, representing Australia, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarters.

Sania and Martina began 2016 by winning the Brisbane International last week for their sixth title in a row.

Their 28-match winning run is the longest since Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci won 25 in a row in 2012. Sara and Roberta had won five titles in a row, at Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, the French Open and 's-Hertogenbosch.

firstpost.com

Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza extand winning streak to 27 at Sydney International

Sydney: The seemingly unstoppable duo of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis eased past Anastasia Rodionova and Arina Rodionova in the opening round of Sydney International to extend their winning streak to 27 matches on Tuesday.

Doubles world number one Sania and Swiss great Martina mauled the Rodionova pairing, representing Australia, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarters.

Sania and Martina began 2016 by winning the Brisbane International last week for their sixth title in a row.

Their 27-match winning run is the longest since Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci won 25 in a row in 2012. Sara and Roberta had won five titles in a row, at Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, the French Open and 's-Hertogenbosch.

ibnlive.com

Kim Clijsters fights her way into Sydney final

SYDNEY — Two-time champion Kim Clijsters will play China's Li Na in the final of the Sydney International after a marathon three-set victory on Thursday.

Clijsters struggled early in the heat before storming home in a final set tiebreaker to overcome unseeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in 2hr 39min.

The Belgian third seed will now take on Li, who earlier wore down Serbian qualifier Bojana Jovanovski 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in 1hr 40min.

Clijsters, 27, who won here in 2003 and 2007, will be bidding for her 41st career singles title in Friday's final, while Li is after her fourth WTA title.

Kleybanova, who got past Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in Wednesday's quarter-final, began well, twice breaking Clijsters' serve to claim the opening set.

Clijsters jumped to a 3-0 lead early in the second set, but despite losing her service in the seventh game, she broke again to level the match.

Kleybanova, who needed two medical timeouts for back and foot troubles, kept the pressure on Clijsters and they traded two service breaks before the Belgian kicked away in the decisive tiebreaker.

Li, 28, who will be defending her rankings points from last year's semi-final appearance at next week's Australian Open, was looking forward to her showdown with the world number three.

"I have nothing to lose because I have played her also many times," said Li, who trails 1-4 in their meetings.

"She's a great player, so I just have to show my best tennis on the court."

The Chinese number one trailed in her match after a service break in the third game.
But she traded four service breaks with Jovanovski before breaking the Serb's serve again in the 12th game to force a tiebreaker.

She won the tiebreaker 7-5 to take the set and controlled the last set with three more service breaks to wrap up victory.

"It wasn't easy," Li said. "I mean, she's young, she's playing well.

"At the beginning of the match I didn't know how she played because I have never seen her practice or play a match.

"It was like, 'What's going on?', I was asking my team.

"Yeah, I was lucky I can finally win the match."

Li is in winning form ahead of the season's opening Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne after eliminating two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the quarter-finals, and Australian Anastasia Rodionova and French qualifier Virginie Razzano in the earlier rounds.

Li became the first Chinese player to break into the world top 10 rankings after reaching the semi-finals of last year's Australian Open.

She is making her fourth appearance at the Sydney International and reached the 2007 semi-finals in which she lost to Clijsters in three sets.

"Australia is always the beginning of the season," Li said. "So sometimes I do well at the Gold Coast and sometimes I do well in Melbourne and sometimes I do well in Sydney.

"I always do well in Australia. I don't know why. Maybe because of my winter training back home. So maybe I should move here," she laughed.

AFP

Kim Clijsters powers into Sydney semis

January 13, 2011 - 1:49AM

AAP


Kim Clijsters showed why a maiden Australian Open title looks to be within reach after a dominant display on Wednesday night took her into the Sydney International semi-finals.

The world No.3 had too much artillery for Victoria Azarenka, downing the Belarusian 6-3 6-2.
Clijsters, a sentimental favourite on these shores after a long relationship with Lleyton Hewitt, is starting to look like a short-priced favourite to capture the women's crown and her first major trophy outside the US.

With no Serena Williams at Melbourne Park and the sketchy early season form of other grand slam suitors such as Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva and Sam Stosur, Clijsters and compatriot Justine Henin are warming as the women most likely at Melbourne Park.

The only problem the third-seeded Belgian appeared to have on Wednesday night was the swirling winds in Ken Rosewall Arena, some untimely double faults giving her opponent the briefest of sighters in a match Clijsters otherwise completely controlled.

The 27-year-old was in devastating touch from the baseline, her deep groundstrokes quickly putting Azarenka on the back foot.

She raced to a 5-1 lead before briefly allowing Azarenka back into the set, then closed out the second with two breaks.

Clijsters said the match was a little deceptive with Azarenka only winning two of 14 break points - both of which came when the Belgian double faulted.
 
"I think the score definitely sounds a lot easier than it was," she said.

"Even when I was up 3-0 in that first set it was close, I think we both started at a pretty high level - I think I played the important points a little bit better."

As for her growing favouritism to win the Australia Open, Clijsters said she it hadn't even considered it.

"I don't think about it like that at all, it's something that is kind of put on you from the outside and it doesn't change anything in my mind," she said.

"I am very happy with the preparation that I've had and have worked hard in the off-season and that's the only thing I can do from my side."

Clijsters will play Alisa Kleybanova in the other semi-final on Thursday after the Russian downed Dominika Cibulkova 6-3 5-7 6-2 in the late match.

sydneymorningherald

Hingis vs. Jankovic match pics

Martina relaxing during a medical time-out:)

The picture of misery, poor Martina

hingis.org

I know I've probably mentioned this before, but what the heck I'll say it again lol. I love this new outfit I hope she wears it in Melbourne white suits her.

Hingis loses in first round of Sydney International

Well, I'm a little late but I was finally able to see Monday's match that Hingis played in Sydney against unseeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic. Boy, what a thrilling 3 setter!.

Before I start the play by play of the match, I just have to say I have no idea why people are so hugely disappointed with this loss. I mean it is a loss but take a look at how hard Hingis fought through it. I haven't seen her fight this hard since the end of last year.

And I love the fact that she doesn't give up when she loses the first set, instead she regroups and is able to take it to a 3rd. Against someone like Jankovic that's no small feat. And again I just think that's such a huge improvement from last year where she usually lost in 2 if she was not able to win the opening set.

Now on to the match, in the opening game of the 1st set Hingis couldn't hold serve, and double faulted giving Jankovic the point. Then Jankovic held serve at love for a 0/2 lead. Martina held her serve in the 3rd game for 1/2.

Jankovic won the next game with a great rally and wonderful effort from both players to go up 1/3. Hingis held serve next for 2/3 and broke Jankovic's serve at love for 3/all. Hingis held serve again to lead 3/4 but Jankovich broke right back for 4/all. Than broke Hingis to go up 4/5. Jankovic served out the first set 4/6 on her second match point afer just 32 minutes.


The second set started off better for Hingis she held serve and after a long rally won the 1st game with a great dropshot (she had quite of few of those in the match). Then Hingis had a 40/love lead and a chance for a break point on Jankovic's serve but lost it. And Jankovic evened it out at 1/all.

Martina held serve for 1/2 but Jankovic broke right back, than broke Hingis to go up 2/3. Jankovic held her serve next and went up 2/4. Hingis then saved a double break point, won the game and broke Jankovic's serve to even things out at 4/all. She won that last point with a superb rally that once again proves why she's still one of the best.

After this Jankovic started to look a little sluggish and seemed to be having physical problems (possibly with her back). Which allowed Hingis to hold her serve and then break to take the match to a 3rd set on her 3rd match point with a result of 6/4.

Before the start of the 3rd set Jankovic called for a trained who checked her blood pressure. There was nothing wrong with her really I think it was just low energy and exhaustion probably still feeling the after effects of her long matches in Auckland shortly before this tournament. Unfortunetly for Hingis she recovered half way through the 3rd set.

Hingis won the first game of the 3rd set but Jankovic held her serve for 1/all, in another tough first game (this match had some outstanding rallies). Jankovic broke serve for 1/2 and held serve for 1/3. Hingis broke back at love for 3/2 but again Jankovic held serve for a 2/4 lead.

Then Hingis saved a triple break point on her serve (with more amazing shots and long rallies) but coudn't pull it off and lost the point allowing Jankovic to go up 2/5. Next Hingis saved 2 match points, Jankovic double faulted giving Martina the point for 3/5. Hingis then got a break point ( still on Jankovic's serve) but missed and the game went to duece, Hingis had 2 more break point opportunities but coudn't convert and Jankovich won on her 3rd match point with a result of 3/6.

I have actually never seen Jankovic play so this was interesting to watch. She seems to be an all court player like Martina (though Hingis is still better at dropshots and volleys). She also throws in lots of angles and pretty amazing cross courts that had even Hingis smiling.

She also hits very hard ground strokes which is how she was able to move Martina around quite a bit and forced her to stay mostly behind the baseline. Jankovic also forced Hingis to hit a lot of extra shots.

Despite the loss the match was a very close one. I think Hingis performed absolutely great throughout. And based on this performance I think she has great chances at the open this year. Especially since fitness was not a problem in the match. This match was great practice for The Aussie Open and I think she'll do quite well there, just as she has in the past.

Also I read on one of the boards a comment someone made about Martina's ego, I have news for you every athlete has an ego. They woudn't be in the sport and probably wouldn't be as good if they didn't.

And just one final comment, I really think fans should stop putting Hingis on a pedastal. Every player loses, and every player has bad days, no player is indestructible and as I've said before Hingis is only human.