Clockwatch: Hingis v Majoli

Game-by-game coverage from the US Open of the third round match between Martina Hingis and Croatia's Iva Majoli.

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Result: M Hingis (Swi, 1) 4-6 6-4 7-6 I Majoli (Cro)

Latest action appears first.

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Third set

Tie-break:
Majoli serves first but after a long rally hooks a backhand wide. (Hingis 1-0)
Majoli makes amends on the backhand with a winner down the line off the first serve (1-1) but is unable to retrieve the next serve. (Hingis 2-1)
The Croat blazes a forehand winner down the line (2-2) and then serves an ace. (Majoli 3-2)
Hingis pulls a forehand wide (4-2) but wins the next point after the cahnge of ends when Majoli is unable to return a fierce volley at the net. (Majoli 4-3)
Majoli pushes a backhand from the baseline long (4-4) but wins her second service point when Hingis pushes a shot long. (Majoli 5-4)
Majoli nets a backhand and looks in agony on her last legs (5-5) and then throws away the next point with a wide return to hand Hingis a match point. (Hingis 6-5)
Hingis leaps in delight when she completes victory on her first match point of the match after Majoli pushes another return wide. (Hingis 7-5)
Hingis 4-6 6-4 7-6 Majoli

For the second time Hingis serves a double fault while serving to close out the match. The mistake heralds a run of four lost points that prove enough to take the match into a tie-break.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 6-6 Majoli

A battle of a service game goes to deuce. The number one seed wins one of the best rallies of the match, and in retrieving a forehand at the net she earns a break-back point. It is converted when Majoli flails at a backhand which goes wide.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 6-5 Majoli

Serving for the match, Hingis opens with a double fault, and after a long rally, nets to give Majoli a 30-0 lead. Hingis closes to 30-30 but misses a backhand down the line to give her opponent the opportunity to break which she duly takes.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 5-5 Majoli

The Croat calls on her dependable backhand and holds to 15.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 5-4 Majoli

Majoli puts away a couple of fierce groundstrokes, but Hingis stands firm in the face of the onslaught and moves within a game of victory.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 5-3 Majoli

Majoli summons all her effort to race to a 40-15 lead but allows Hingis back into the game with a double and an unforced error. The Croat saves a break point with a delightful drop shot, and having served another double on her first game point, she holds when Hingis pushes a forehand into the tramlines.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 4-3 Majoli

Two unforced errors from Majoli on the return of serve enable Hingis to hold to 15.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 4-2 Majoli

The world number one pushes a driven volley at 30-30 wide. Majoli holds with another backhand winner down the line to close to within a game of her opponent, having been three adrift.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 3-2 Majoli

Hingis shows no compassion to her opponent and plays a drop shot with Majoli marooned on the baseline. However a second double of the match from Hingis gives Majoli hope, and a break point. She duly converts to win back one of the breaks.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 3-1 Majoli

Hingis breaks again to virtually guarantee herself a spot in the fourth round. Although Majoli delights the crowd with some tennis of the calibre of the first set, it is now far less frequent.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 3-0 Majoli

After the lengthy battle for the first game of the set, and an even longer delay afterwards, play resumes and the balance of the match appears to be shifting. Hingis holds with ease.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 2-0 Majoli

In the change of ends at the start of the set Majoli takes an injury time-out for a leg injury and a blister on her hand. Whilst her opponent receives attention from the trainer, Hingis leaves the court.
Having gone into the bowels of the stadium wearing white, Hingis re-emerges clad in red. For her part, Majoli resumes with a heavily strapped right thigh.

Majoli starts the deciding set with a scrappy service game which goes to deuce and ends as the longest game of the match to date. The Croat is visibly tiring under the heat that is building in New York and, after slowing the tempo of the match, is warned for slow play. After seven deuces Hingis finally breaks.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 1-0 Majoli

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Second set

Hingis opens her service game with a disguised, delicate drop shot winner. It sets the tone for the game which the world number one races through, winning to love to level the match.
Hingis 4-6 6-4 Majoli

Hingis

At 0-30 down Majoli serves yet another double fault - her fourth - to gift Hingis three break points. The third consecutive game goes against serve when Hingis puts away a flashing forehand cross-court winner.
Hingis 4-6 5-4 Majoli

Just as Hingis is threatening to turn the tide her serve deserts her and Majoli earns three break points. She takes the second to level the set.
Hingis 4-6 4-4 Majoli

The players are neck-and-neck throughout the point and Majoli does herself no favours with a double fault at 15-15.
Hingis wins a break point after an hour on court and converts it when Majoli pushes one of her punishing backhands just wide.
Hingis 4-6 4-3 Majoli

Hingis upsets the crowd when she questions a line call early in the game. The argument with the umpire brings an aggressive edge to her game but she is unable to shake Majoli off. Hingis fluffs a drop shot to hand Majoli a break point but escapes with the game after saving the point.
Hingis 4-6 3-3 Majoli

Majoli puts away another backhand down the line - her ninth - to open the game. The Croat maintains her composure as the set nears the business end and holds to 15.
Hingis 4-6 2-3 Majoli

Hingis loses the first point of the game but wins the next four to hold.
Hingis 4-6 2-2 Majoli

The number one seed plays more positive tennis but is undone when Majoli cranks up her serve to win three successive points and hold to 30.
Hingis 4-6 1-2 Majoli

Hingis holds her serve to love and levels the set.
Hingis 4-6 1-1 Majoli

Majoli puts a bad line call behind her and recovers from 15-30 down to hold to 30. The Croat's form shows no sign of waning and she is playing expansive tennis off both flanks.
Hingis 4-6 0-1 Majoli

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First set

The Swiss player's run of winners ends at nine when Majoli lands a groundstroke on the line to level at 15-15. The Croat takes confidence from that point and finds some rhythm on her backhand again to bring up a set point at 30-40. After stuttering through the last game she converts with an angeld forehand winner.
Hingis 4-6 Majoli

Majoli is ranked 47th in the world

The pressure of serving for the set affects the Croat and she concedes three break points after serving two double faults. Hingis puts away a cross-court backhand to break to love.
Hingis 4-5 Majoli

Hingis plays out her most commanding service game of the match to date.
Hingis 3-5 Majoli

The world number one looks to play more positive tennis, but Majoli maintains the upper hand and holds to move within four points of the set.
Hingis 2-5 Majoli

Hingis holds her serve but is still less than convincing, winning key points on unforced errors from her opponent.
Hingis 2-4 Majoli

Majoli is in complete control and backs up her powerful serve with a strong all-round game, particularly off the backhand. Two unforced errors at 40-15 allow Hingis back into the game but Majoli re-asserts her authority from deuce to hold.
Hingis 1-4 Majoli

Hingis struggles through another service game. Majoli pounces on some loose second serves to earn another break point. Although she wastes the initial opportunity, she breaks again after three deuces.
Hingis 1-3 Majoli

Majoli gives the break right back with a poor service game, Hingis breaking to 15.
Hingis 1-2 Majoli

Having opened with a dominant service game, the Croat breaks to love. Hingis breezed through her first two matches but may find herself in a contest against the former French Open winner.
Hingis 0-2 Majoli

Majoli opens by holding her serve to 15 on the Arthur Ashe court.
Hingis 0-1 Majoli