| CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Second seed Jennifer
Capriati of the United States overcame a late rally by top seed Martina
Hingis and repeated her Australian Open feat by winning the Family Circle
Cup tennis event Sunday.
Capriati, who beat Hingis in the final at the Australian Open, nearly
blew a 5-1 lead in the final set before holding on for a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
win in one hour, 53 minutes.
The 25-year-old claimed her second title of the year and 11th in her
career while pocketing $178,000.
A two-time Family Cirlce champion, Hingis mounted a strong effort in
the final set to get back on serve at 4-5. But she dropped the first three
points on her serve and hit a shot wide at 15-40.
Capriati, who dropped only one set all week, had returned to action
after squandering eight match points against fellow American Venus Williams
in the final of the Ericsson Open on April 1.
Capriati also was runner-up at Oklahoma City in February. She has won
23 of 27 matches in 2001.
Hingis is tied with Amelie Mauresmo, whom she eliminated in the quarterfinals
here, with a tour-leading three titles and has a 39-6 match record this
year.
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