Hingis downs champion in Tokyo

Martina Hingis beat defending champion Elena Dementieva yesterday for a place in the final of Japan's Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament against Ana Ivanovic.

The Swiss second seed, seeking a record fifth Tokyo indoor title this week, avenged her loss in last year's final with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the Russian third seed.

Ivanovic, the fifth seed from Serbia, received a free pass to the final after current world No. 1 Maria Sharapova of Russia pulled out of her semi-final match with a left hamstring injury at 6-1, 0-1.

Hingis Dementieva's backhand and chalked up a 5-1 lead in first set. She was never in danger afterwards, forcing a break in the eighth game of the second set and wrapping up the win in 70 minutes.

"That's my strategy for most of the time because I feel like my backhand is a stronger part," Hingis said of her attack on Dementieva's backhand.

"She also hit a lot of backhand cross-court rallies. I also tried to change up to go down the line. It's definitely my big weapon, my backhand cross court," Hingis said.

Ivanovic her victory over the injured Sharapova was not a good way to win a match.

"From the beginning of the match, I didn't notice anything, because she was moving pretty well and also serving OK," the Serb said.

"I was really surprised that at the end of the set she called a physician and straight away retired, Ivanovic said. "It was surprising that she had a problem."

"It's never nice to win the match that way," she said. "I felt pretty confident and I was happy that each match I played better and my serve was working really well -- that's very important to play against top players."

Sharapova "It's always disappointing to end a tournament that way. I definitely tried to find the way, hoping the pain was settled and would get better. That's why I tried to play the first set."