Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis make winning start in WTA Finals

SINGAPORE: Top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continued their rampaiging form and recorded a straight set victory in their opening match of the year-ending USD 7 million WTA Finals here.

The Indo-Swiss combine, on a roll with eight tropies already in their cabinet this season, defeated sixth seeded American duo of Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears 6-4 6-2 in the red group of the round robin league format yesterday on the hard courts of the Singapore Indoor Stadium here.

A break of serve in the opeing set was all what Sania and Martina needed to take the lead.

In the second set, Sania and Martina first saved six break points and then broke their American opponents twice to pocket the set and the match.

Sania had won the prestigious tournament last year with Zimbabwean Cara Black.

Besides being the top seeds, Sania and Martina are at present individually the two highest ranked players in the world.

The in-form Indo-Swiss pair will now face seventh seeds Andrea Hlavácková and Lucie Hradecká of Czech Republic in their second match of the tournament.

Sania and Martina had won titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan and China this year.

The WTA Finals is an annual event participated by the top-8 players/pairs of the year who are divided into two round robin groups -- red and white.

Top two from each group progress to the semifinals, followed by the finals.