Tennis: Hingis in fine form

MARTINA HINGIS advanced to the quarter-finals of the TIG Classic in Carlsbad, California, after beating American Chanda Rubin, 7-5, 6-3.

In her first match since her dramatic defeat at the hands of Jelena Dokic at Wimbledon, Hingis, who has reunited with her mother, has returned a more mature player. "The month I spent in Florida was the most important thing I did," she said, "to get myself in better shape and think over things, and get back with my mum."

At the Canadian Open in Montreal, the top seed Patrick Rafter began the defence of his title with an impressive 6-0, 6-2 win over the American qualifier Alex O'Brien. Rafter next meets Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic, who overcame Australia's Jason Stoltenberg.