Jan 8, 2007, 10:39 GMT
Sydney - Struggling Serb Jelena Jankovic fought off illness, coming back after a doctor's visit on court to upset Martina Hingis 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 for a place in the second round at the Medibank International on Monday.
World number 12 Jankovic at times looked to have barely recovered from a weekend trophy performance in New Zealand. The 21-year-old Serb called for the trainer and eventually the tournament doctor after three-time champion Hingis won the second set to square the tight battle.
After having her blood pressure checked and taking a few swallows of sports drink, the outsider went back into action to beat the three-time champion from Switzerland.
Men's fourth seed Marcos Baghdatis returned to the country for the first time since losing the Australia Open final to Roger Federer last January.
The Cypriot, who won fans over a year ago, needed a hip massage on the way to an opening win over Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
'It got better after that (the massage),' said the 21-year-old Baghdatis, who came to Australia from last week's season-opening event in Doha. 'I still feel pain, but I hope it will go away with treatment.'
Jankovic wasted tzwo match points and double faulted in the eighth game of the final set against Hingis to drop serve for 5-3.
But Hingis, who lost in the first round at the event in 2006 to Justine Henin-Hardenne, was unable to caplitalise on her momentum, sending a forehand wide on a third winning chance for Jankovic after more than two hours.
'It was such a tough match today,' said the relieved Jankovic, who next faces Australian Samantha Stosur, a 6-1, 6-4 winner against Russian Vera Zvonareva. 'I was just arrived from Auckland and didn't have much time to train.
'But I came through and I'm proud of that,' said the 2006 US Open semi-finalist. 'I'm sure I will not have the crowd on my side in the next match, But I just want to play my game and enjoy it.'
Added a philosophical Hingis: 'At least I'll have a few days off.'
Seventh seed Patty Schnyder flew the flag for Switzerland with her win over Russian Vera Dushevina, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Stosur and Jankovic have met once, with the Serb winning last summer in Los Angeles.
'I think I definitely came into the net pretty well today,' said the Australian. 'I like the courts here, They work in my favour with my serve.'
On the men's side, Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych put out Australian Robert Smeets 6-2, 7-5 while Spaniard Fernando Verdasco upset French eighth seed Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 6-4. There were also opening-round wins for Czech Jan Hernych and American Robby Ginepri.
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