ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Martina Hingis won a title for the first time in her home country, delighting a foot-stomping crowd Sunday with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Lindsay Davenport in the Swisscom Challenge.

Hingis prevailed in a match between the world's top two players. Davenport, coming back after a three-week layoff because of injury, lost for the first time in 21 matches in Switzerland.

``It means twice as much to win here,'' Hingis said after winning her 33rd WTA singles title. ``I'm sorry I had to beat Lindsay and end her winning streak here, but I really wanted to win.''

The top-ranked Hingis made her debut in this tournament six years ago at 14. She had reached the finals twice before, losing in straight sets in 1996 and 1999.

Hingis and Davenport have been vying for the top spot the last two years. Davenport took the No. 1 ranking from Hingis in 1998 when the Swiss star withdrew because of injury.

Hingis did not play for Switzerland at the Olympics or the Fed Cup, and this victory went a long way toward returning to good standing with Swiss fans.

``They were great and winning a final can help them forget,'' Hingis said of the sellout crowd at Schluefweg Arena. ``It was definitely a good choice not to go to the Olympics. It paid off. I was fresh and won my last two tournaments.''

On Sunday, Hingis proved too tough in the third set. With the score 5-5, she seemed unwilling to let her chance at winning slip away. She accumulated two match points on her opponent's serve and won when Davenport netted a forehand.

``I was trying to hit too good instead of playing relaxed and hitting it smoothly,'' Davenport said.

Davenport had to stop playing during the Sydney Olympics because of tendinitis in her left foot. She has lost eight finals this season.

``It's pretty discouraging,'' she said. ``That's twice this year that I was serving for the match in a final and lost.''

Davenport and Hingis have met in four finals this season, with Davenport winning at the Australian Open and Indian Wells and Hingis winning in Miami and Zurich.

Hingis was assured of keeping the No. 1 ranking by making the semifinals. She regained the top ranking at the Italian Open and will hold the No. 1 spot for a 22nd consecutive week.

In the first set, Hingis dropped her opening serve to fall behind 2-0 and appeared to put little effort into even the easiest of shots.

But she slowly got into the match. The two fought played evenly until the 10th game, when Hingis broke, sealing the game and the set with a crosscourt forehand return.

In the second set, Hingis struggled with Davenport's forehand and blistering serves. The Californian closed the set with two thundering aces and two serves that Hingis sent back wildly.

In the third, up 2-1, Hingis squandered two break points. At 3-2 Davenport took 10 points in a row on the way to a 4-3 lead, but Hingis broke back immediately and persevered in the closing games.

``At the end I just couldn't win that last game and that was a bit of a disappointment,'' Davenport said.