| TOKYO (TICKER) -- Lindsay Davenport took the upper hand
in her rivalry with Martina Hingis and captured her first title of the
season Sunday with a three-set victory in the final of the Pan Pacific
Open.
Davenport, seeded second, rallied for a 6-7, (4-7), 6-4, 6-2 victory
over the top-seeded Hingis to claim her 31st career title. Her last tournament
victory came in Philadelphia last November, when she defeated Hingis in
the championship match.
The 24-year-old American, who lost in the Australian Open semifinals
last week, was making her sixth straight appearance at this tournament.
In addition to her title run in 1998, she finished runner-up in 1995.
Hingis and Davenport have alternated wins and losses in their last six
encounters but Davenport took a 13-10 advantage in the lifetime matchup
and earned $175,000 with Sunday's triumph.
A winner over Davenport in Sydney last month, Hingis was seeking her
fourth title here in five years and 37th career crown. Her season record
fell to 17-2.
The 20-year-old from Switzerland was coming off a loss to Jennifer Capriati
in the Australian Open final after defeating sisters Venus and Serena Williams
back-to-back to earn a spot in the championship match.
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