Hingis wins as Williams retires

Serena Williams: Devastating in the first set

Martina Hingis (Swi) bt Serena Williams (USA) 0-6, 6-3, 3-0 (ret.)

Martina Hingis retained her du Maurier Open title after final opponent Serena Williams was forced to retire with a foot injury.

Hingis was leading 3-0 in the third set when Williams informed umpire Anne Lasserre-Ulrich that she was unable to continue.

Williams had received treatment at courtside after the second set for what appeared to be a blister on her left foot.

This was the 31st career tournament win for Hingis and ensured that she retains her number one world ranking.

Streak ended

By winning the final she ended a three-match losing streak to 18-year-old Williams, who had beaten her in the semi-finals in Los Angeles a week before.

Victory also ended a remarkable winning streak by the Williams sisters.

Serena and Venus, who didn't play at the du Maurier, had won the previous four tournaments between them and had not lost to anyone except one another in 29 matches.

Hingis, 19, will now be top-seeded for the US Open, which starts on August 28.

And Williams, the defending champion at Flushing Meadow, will jump from number seven to five in the WTA Tour rankings.

Service break

The first set lasted only 21 minutes as Williams totally dominated.

She consistently hit winners from Hingis' vulnerable second serve and was overwhelming on her own serve, firing five aces.

Hingis got back into the match in the second set when she earned a service break for 1-1.

A poor service game by Williams gave Hingis another break for 5-3.

Hingis broke her service again to open the third set and after a second service break for 3-0 Williams retired.

Hingis said she could understand how her opponent had got injured.

"This surface is very difficult to play on," she said. "It's the third tournament I've played on it and I feel it in my muscles.

"It's just very tough on your whole body."