Tennis: Former world number one Martina Hingis swept aside Russia's Dinara Safina 6-2 7-5 to win the Italian Open today, her first title since ending a three-year self-imposed exile from the professional game.
The Swiss, who returned in December, had last won a tournament in Tokyo in February 2002.
Safina had beaten a series of higher-ranked players on her way to the final, including world number two Kim Clijsters, but her form deserted her as she sprayed shots long and wide.
Hingis's victory is expected to move her back into the world's top 15 and establish her as a contender for the French Open, which starts next Sunday.
