The Youngest Tennis Champion —Martina Hingis We’re used to swaggering, in-your-face trash talk from NBA players, boxers and even a few politicians, but teenagers in tennis skirts? There’s a new generation of women on the court. They’re young. They’re pretty. And they’re unbelievably brash about everything. Here’s 17-year-old Martina Hingis explaining her lack of humility：“ People say that I am arrogant. I am No. 1 in the world, so I have a right to be arrogant.” Actually she’s the best in the world. Two years after becoming the youngest No. 1 player in history, Hingis won her second Family Circle title. Hingis came to Britain in 1997, posing with a large “No. 1” made of tennis balls. A week later, she had earned her sixth straight title and 31st straight victory with a Family Circle title. “At that stage, you don’t really get it that you’re the best tennis player in the world,” Hingis, 18, said after a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kournikova Sunday. “There is always another match to go, another tournament.” It was only later, she said, she realized, “I became No. 1. I’m like the best.” Hardly arguing anymore now. It’s been a difficult week in the shadows for Hingis, pushed aside by the all-Williams’ final at the Lipton Championships last week and Kournikova’s run through the Family Circle. “With the Williams sisters and Anna, I was saying, ‘What about me?’” said Hingis, who earned $150, 000. “I think this was about time.” Hingis doesn’t mind talk of her rivals. “So long as they’re lower than me, I’m fine,” she said. Kournikova gave her a run on the concourse and practice courts at the Sea Pines Racquet Club, though. The sassy Russian star’s poster was one of the hottest items at the season’s first clay court tournament. Her doubles matches got only attention. Even Fox Sports Net analyst Pam Oliver told Kournikova, when presenting her with the runner-up honor, that she was “really popular with the men.” But Hingis, smiling most of the way, showed who’s No. 1 on the court. She trailed Kournikova 4-3 in the opening set, but broke the Russian’s serve three staight times in winning the next six games. When Korunikova struck back to close the second set to 3-2, Hingis broke serve again to regain control. When Kournikova’s forehand slapped the net, Hingis had closed out her third tournament win this year and her 10th straight Family Circle singles victory. Kournikova’s game was erratic. She overcame Hingis’ 40-15 lead in the first set. Then she double-faulted twice to lose the next one. “You have to play smart and be patient with her,” Kournikova said. “But I made a few unforced errors because I tried to go for too much.” Hingis stayed steady throughout, never letting Kournikova break away. And when the crowd tried to pull Kournidova through, Hingis would remind them with a surprise drop shot or sharp forehand winner who’s No. 1. Kournikova acknowledged the support she gets. She’s confident in her ability — she beat Hingis at last year’s German Open — but said she knows her game needs the seasoning she can get by advancing to finals. “This is great for me, great for my confidence,” Kournikova said. “This gave me some experience and hopefully, I won’t be a runner-up much longer.” But Hingis will rest for about a month, returning to the tour at the Italian Open. She understands a lot better about the knack of winning crucial points and staying on top. “(If) you are better ranked, you’re a better player, you win the match,” Hingis said. “If not, you always are the loser.” 我們常常互相大侃特侃NBA 球員，拳擊手甚至是有關一些政客的廢話，爲什麼不談談身着網球裙的十幾歲的姑娘們呢？網球場上有了新一代的女性。他們年輕，漂亮。而且對於任何事她們都帶有令人難以置信的率直。十七歲的瑪蒂娜·辛吉斯是這樣解釋她的不謙遜的：“人們說我傲慢。我是世界頭號選手，所以我有權傲慢。” 她的確是世界最出色的。在辛吉斯成爲歷史上最年輕的頭號選手的兩年後，她又贏得了第二個大滿貫頭銜。 辛吉斯1997年來到英國，她用網球擺了個大大的“第一”。一週後，她已贏得了連續第六個冠軍頭銜並在大滿貫中連續31場不敗。 １８歲的辛吉斯，在週日以６比４，６比３戰勝庫爾尼科娃後說：“在那種場合，你並未能真正說明自己是世界上最出色的網球選手，總是有下場比賽，下一場錦標賽。”只是到後來，她說，她意識到“我是第一。我喜歡最好。” 而現在就不好說了。一週來辛吉斯都處在陰影中舉步維艱，上週在利浦頓冠軍賽中，被威廉斯姐妹擠出決賽，大滿貫中庫爾尼科娃又力拔頭籌。 剛剛贏得十五萬美元的辛吉斯說：“面對威廉姆斯姐妹和安娜，我要說：‘我怎麼辦？’我想現在是時候了。”辛吉斯並不介意談論她的對手，她說：“只要她們超不過我，就萬事大吉了。” 不過，庫爾尼科娃在賽場上和在海濱松樹網球俱樂部的練習場地上帶給了她壓力。這位伶俐的俄羅斯球星的招貼畫成了該賽季第一場紅土地錦標賽的熱點。她的雙打比賽的確引起了注意。就邊福克斯體育網的分析家帕姆·奧利佛在給庫爾尼科娃頒亞軍獎時也說她“很受男士的青睞。” 而辛吉斯，始終面帶微笑，在球場上證明着誰是王者。開盤時她以４比３落後於庫爾尼科娃，但卻連續破了這個俄羅斯人的三個發球局從而贏得了後六輪比賽。 當科爾尼科娃在第二盤發起反擊並以３比２領先時，辛吉斯再一次破了她的發球，重新獲得了場上的控制權。當庫爾尼科娃正手擊球下網時，辛吉斯結束了她的第三個錦標賽，贏得了這一年也是她的第 十個大滿貫比賽的勝利。 庫爾尼科娃的比賽發揮不穩定。她在第一盤以４０比１５領先於辛吉斯，接着以發球雙誤輸掉了下一盤。 庫爾尼科娃說：“與她比賽你要機智、冷靜，可我犯了一些情有可原的錯誤，因爲我太執著了。” 辛吉斯始終穩紮穩打，沒有給庫爾尼科娃以可乘之機。而當觀衆力圖使庫爾尼科娃渡過難關時，辛吉斯就會以突然的近網短球或刁鑽的正手擊球來提醒他們誰纔是第一。 庫爾尼科娃感謝觀衆對她的支持。她對自己的能力充滿信心——她曾在前一年的德國公開賽上擊敗過辛吉斯——但她說她知道自己需要調態才能進入決賽。 “這對我很重要，對我的信心很重要，”科爾尼科娃說。“它會給我經驗，使我有希望不再成爲亞軍。”而辛吉斯則要養精畜銳一個月，待意大利公開賽時重返賽場。她更明白贏得關鍵比分的決竅以及如何保持不敗。 “倘若你的級別被評定得越高，你就會發揮得越出色，就能贏得比賽，”辛吉斯說。“否則，你永遠是輸家。”
