| By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - This time there were no tears for Martina
Hingis, who simply walked off the court dazed in defeat.
In one of the greatest upsets in Wimbledon's 113-year history, Hingis
lost 6-2, 6-0 today in the opening round to Jelena Dokic, a 16-year-old
qualifier ranked 129th.
The world's top-ranked woman was playing her first singles match since
her emotional collapse at the French Open final. But there was no repeat
of her petulant display that drew boos in Paris.
Instead, Hingis left the court with a vacant, stoic expression. At a
news conference she even managed to smile while discussing the loss.
``It happens to everybody sometimes,'' she said. ``I'm not that disappointed.''
Nonetheless, the result was a stunner, even though Dokic was the top-ranked
junior last year before turning professional. She has been touted as a
potential star, and her mixture of baseline power and drop shots overwhelmed
Hingis.
Boris Becker nearly made a hasty exit, too. The three-time Wimbledon
champion overcame three match points in the fourth set to beat wild-card
Miles Maclagan 5-7, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in four hours.
Becker announced his retirement two years ago from Grand Slam competition
but decided to make one more try at the All England Club.
``Today was as close as it could get, but there's a reason I've won
so many matches here,'' Becker said. ``My opponent played incredible, but
not good enough.''
Andre Agassi had a much easier time, sweeping Andrei Pavel 6-1, 6-2,
6-3. Agassi hopes to become the first man since 1980 to win the French
Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
Dokic (pronounced DAH-kick), a Yugoslav-born Australian, had to win
three qualifying matches just to make the tournament. She swept the final
11 games and completed her victory in 54 minutes, showing no sign of nervousness.
``It's surprising,'' Dokic said. ``You'd expect me to be, but I wasn't.
There's no pressure to win. I've been playing well, and I just went for
it.''
This was only the third time the top-seeded woman was eliminated in
her opening match at Wimbledon - the others were Margaret Smith in 1962
and Steffi Graf in 1994.
It was also the third time during the Open era that a top-seeded woman
has lost an opening match of a Grand Slam event.
There was one more first - Hingis played a major match without her mother
there. The experiment didn't work.
``This tournament we decided to have a little distance,'' said the 18-year-old
Swiss. ``I was probably too nervous, not much believing what I could do.
I wanted to do it; it didn't work out this time.''
Hingis tried to call her mother after the match but couldn't get through
on a cell phone.
Her mother, Melanie Molitor, doubles as coach. Hingis said they're still
close and she's not looking for another coach, but she will take four or
five weeks off.
When asked if she wants time to reflect on her life, Hingis smiled.
``It's been a great life so far. I really like it,'' she said, before
adding, ``A break would really suit me right now.''
Hingis looked rattled at times but avoided a repeat of the French Open
final against Steffi Graf. In that match she walked to the other side of
the court to question calls, served underhand near the finish, drew jeers
from the crowd and sobbed afterward on her mother's shoulder.
Wimbledon's Court 1 crowd seemed partial to Dokic, but Hingis had no
complaint.
``I didn't make that many winners,'' she said. ``They didn't have much
to clap about.''
Among those cheering - politely this time - was Dokic's father, Damir,
who was expelled two weeks ago for disorderly conduct from a tournament
where his daughter played in Birmingham, England. He later blocked traffic,
threw himself on the hood of a car and was held by police for several hours.
Dokic played Hingis once previously, losing at the Australian Open in
January, 6-1, 6-2. The women were practice partners before the French Open
at Hingis' home in Switzerland.
``She played some great tennis today,'' Hingis said. ``This win will
give her confidence.''
Hingis was the first seeded player eliminated this week. No. 5 Jana
Novotna, coming back from an ankle injury in the French Open, began defense
of her 1998 title by beating Shi-Ting Wang 6-2, 6-1. No. 3 Lindsay Davenport
and No. 7 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario also won.
In a match that took two days to complete, Jennifer Capriati edged Anke
Huber 5-7, 6-3, 9-7. The match was suspended Monday at 5-5 in the third
set because of darkness.
No seeded man has lost yet. No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Magnus Larsson
6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-5 in a match suspended Monday at 5-5
in the final set.
1996 champion Richard Krajicek, seeded fifth, hit 20 aces and swept
Christian Ruud 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. No. 2 Patrick Rafter beat Cristiano Caratti
6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 10 Goran Ivanisevic, a three-time runner-up, slammed 23 aces to
beat Mikael Tillstrom 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
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