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.”  

我们常常互相大侃特侃NBA 球员，拳击手甚至是有关一些政客的废话，为什么不谈谈身着网球裙的十几岁的姑娘们呢？网球场上有了新一代的女性。他们年轻，漂亮。而且对于任何事她们都带有令人难以置信的率直。十七岁的玛蒂娜·辛吉斯是这样解释她的不谦逊的：“人们说我傲慢。我是世界头号选手，所以我有权傲慢。”

她的确是世界最出色的。在辛吉斯成为历史上最年轻的头号选手的两年后，她又赢得了第二个大满贯头衔。

辛吉斯1997年来到英国，她用网球摆了个大大的“第一”。一周后，她已赢得了连续第六个冠军头衔并在大满贯中连续31场不败。

１８岁的辛吉斯，在周日以６比４，６比３战胜库尔尼科娃后说：“在那种场合，你并未能真正说明自己是世界上最出色的网球选手，总是有下场比赛，下一场锦标赛。”只是到后来，她说，她意识到“我是第一。我喜欢最好。”

而现在就不好说了。一周来辛吉斯都处在阴影中举步维艰，上周在利浦顿冠军赛中，被威廉斯姐妹挤出决赛，大满贯中库尔尼科娃又力拔头筹。

刚刚赢得十五万美元的辛吉斯说：“面对威廉姆斯姐妹和安娜，我要说：‘我怎么办？’我想现在是时候了。”辛吉斯并不介意谈论她的对手，她说：“只要她们超不过我，就万事大吉了。”

不过，库尔尼科娃在赛场上和在海滨松树网球俱乐部的练习场地上带给了她压力。这位伶俐的俄罗斯球星的招贴画成了该赛季第一场红土地锦标赛的热点。她的双打比赛的确引起了注意。就边福克斯体育网的分析家帕姆·奥利佛在给库尔尼科娃颁亚军奖时也说她“很受男士的青睐。”

而辛吉斯，始终面带微笑，在球场上证明着谁是王者。开盘时她以４比３落后于库尔尼科娃，但却连续破了这个俄罗斯人的三个发球局从而赢得了后六轮比赛。

当科尔尼科娃在第二盘发起反击并以３比２领先时，辛吉斯再一次破了她的发球，重新获得了场上的控制权。当库尔尼科娃正手击球下网时，辛吉斯结束了她的第三个锦标赛，赢得了这一年也是她的第 十个大满贯比赛的胜利。

库尔尼科娃的比赛发挥不稳定。她在第一盘以４０比１５领先于辛吉斯，接着以发球双误输掉了下一盘。

库尔尼科娃说：“与她比赛你要机智、冷静，可我犯了一些情有可原的错误，因为我太执著了。”

辛吉斯始终稳扎稳打，没有给库尔尼科娃以可乘之机。而当观众力图使库尔尼科娃渡过难关时，辛吉斯就会以突然的近网短球或刁钻的正手击球来提醒他们谁才是第一。

库尔尼科娃感谢观众对她的支持。她对自己的能力充满信心——她曾在前一年的德国公开赛上击败过辛吉斯——但她说她知道自己需要调态才能进入决赛。

“这对我很重要，对我的信心很重要，”科尔尼科娃说。“它会给我经验，使我有希望不再成为亚军。”而辛吉斯则要养精畜锐一个月，待意大利公开赛时重返赛场。她更明白赢得关键比分的决窍以及如何保持不败。

“倘若你的级别被评定得越高，你就会发挥得越出色，就能赢得比赛，”辛吉斯说。“否则，你永远是输家。”