Henin-Hardenne routs Hingis in opener of Sydney tourney

SYDNEY, Australia -- Justine Henin-Hardenne beat Martina Hingis 6-3, 6-3 Monday in the first round at the Sydney International, giving the former No. 1 player a dose of reality in her comeback.

Henin-Hardenne, the French Open champion who had not played since October because of a right hamstring strain, had too much power for Hingis.

A five-time Grand Slam singles winner who has been off the WTA Tour since 2002 because of foot and heel problems, the Swiss star won three matches on the Gold Coast last week in her first full tournament in three years.

But this was her first match against a Top 10 player. Hingis was broken in her opening service game and generally struggled with the pace as Henin-Hardenne attacked the slower second serves.

Henin-Hardenne, who finished last season ranked No. 6, broke Hingis' serve three times in the first set and once in the second, when she won eight straight points to take a 4-2 lead.

Chennai Open

Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia captured the Chennai Open with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory Sunday over Carlos Moya, who was trying to win the tournament for a third straight year.

-- From wire reports