The same, but different

Will Capriati be jumping for joy come Saturday?

It may feature the same protagonists, but the build-up to the Australian Open final on Saturday could not be more different from that of 12 months ago.

Jennifer Capriati, the 12th seed, was an outside bet at best to reach last year's final, let alone beat the world number one to win the event.

This year, Martina Hingis was barely given a mention as a title contender, after three years without a Grand Slam and a month off the Tour with injury.

And yet Hingis will again meet Capriati in Saturday's final, this time as the underdog, with Capriati bearing the pressure of being the defending champion and the top seed.

  Hingis: Story so far

bt V Razzano 6-2 6-2

bt G Arn 6-1 6-2

bt B Rittner 6-1 6-0

bt A Coezer 6-1 6-0

bt A Serra Zanetti 6-2 6-3

bt M Seles 4-6 6-1 6-4

Hingis, the 2002 model, has been like a breath of fresh air.

Gone are the anguished glances at her ever-present mother and coach, Melanie Molitor, which stemmed from her frustration at not just the Williams sisters but Capriati and a growing group of others exposing frailties in her game.

The disarming smile when things are going her way, which led to some cruelly dubbing her the "Chucky" of tennis, is back.

More crucially, she is back to her best, focused and energised after an enforced three-month break.

As the former world number one lurched from one pummelling to another, many questioned her persistence with a punishing schedule which was ultimately the sole reason she clung on to the rankings top spot in 2001.

Now Hingis herself admits that a break has given her time to reassess her attitude to the game.

"I always loved this game, it's just sometimes it was just too much," she said.

Defeat by Capriati in 2001 was a bitter blow for Hingis

"It's not like I have this body of a robot. I think you learn from mistakes and you get smarter. You just know where your limits are and you realise when to cut back and when to do things."

Capriati, too, has been a rather downcast presence recently.

Her sudden elevation from an intriguing sideshow to a main event in tennis sits rather uncomfortably with an intensely private person.

But the American, who has been transformed from teenage tearaway to Grand Slam champion, seems finally to be growing into her newfound status.

Her performances in Melbourne have been as assured as they were 12 months ago - helped perhaps by a new training regime, which includes a kick-boxing workout.

  Capriati: Story so far

bt S Talaja 6-4 6-1

bt M Tu 6-1 6-3

bt E Daniilidou 6-2, 3-6 6-1

bt R Grande 6-3 7-6

bt A Mauresmo 6-2 6-2

bt K Clijsters 7-5 3-6 6-1

The world number two has also shed the nerviness which characterised her performances in the second half of 2001.

"As long as I feel confident in the way I'm playing, then the rest is not something to worry about," she said.

"If I'm going to lose, at least it's because my opponent played better. I don't want to lose because I'm feeling pressure and playing with fear."

For Hingis, playing Capriati again is more than a simple revenge mission.

This time last year, she sat dumbfounded after losing the final.

Having beaten both the previously impregnable Williams sisters, she was forced to witness Capriati, her family and a delirious crowd celebrate the American's improbable win.

On this latest occasion, her sixth consecutive Australian Open final, Hingis can create her own fairytale.