PARIS. June 5: Steffi Graf staged one of the great fightbacks of her long and glorious career to beat te-
enager Martina Hingis in three d rama-charged sets Saturday and win the French Open women's singles title for a sixth time, reports AFP.
Graf, who turns 30 in a few days, beat top-seeded Hingis 4-6. 7-5. 6-2 in 2hr 25min sifter being within three points of defeat at the end of the second set.
It was the German veteran's 22nd Grand Slam title, leaving her just two short of the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court.
Graf was playing in her first Grand Slam final since 1996 -and she turned back the clock to her glory days after two years in which she has been plagued by injuries.
"This feels amazing," she told the crowd. "I have to thank you all. I feel French. I’ve played all around the globe but I've never had a crowd like that ever."
Playing at Roland Garros for the 16th time. Graf was a huge crowd favourite as a testy Hingis, was given a code conduct warning in the first set and later a point penalty in the second set for disputing a line call.
The 18-year old Swiss player sobbed wildly after her loss and had to be comforted by her mother and coach Melanie Molitor, although she soon recovered both her composure and smile.
"It was a very close match and I want to tell Martina she is going to have so many more chances to win. 'Don't worry about it'." Graf said.
Graf — who first won here in 1987 - became the first player in the Open era to beat the top. three players in the world at the same event and only Chris Evert. with seven, has won more French titles.
"This is the most important
memory I’m ever going to have in my tennis career." Graf said.
Hingis had been bidding for' the sixth Grand Slam title of her career and the only Slam title to have eluded her -- and she served for the match at 5-4 In the second set before Graf launched her remarkable recovery.
"I want to congratulate Steffi after a very good match." Hingis said in French. "She's a great champion but I hope I can win next year.
"I was three points away today and you don't like to lose like that- but maybe next time."
Graf was playing in a recordequalling ninth singles final at Roland Garros but fell behind in a match delayed by rain and then played in difficult blustery winds on tire slow red clay.
It was the first title of the year for the German and ended a run of 20 wins in 21 matches for Hingis as experience won out over youth.
Graf picked up 604.000 US dollars for her win and will move back up to third in the new WTA Tour rankings list -her highest ranking since she lost the number one spot in March, 1997. Hingis earned 302,000 dollars. ' .
Graf has now won seven of her nine career meetings, with Hingis.
The young Swiss player got off to a flying start took the first set 6-4 and led 2-0 in the second before the first controversy.
The feisty Swiss player, dubbed “the smiling assassin" for her toughness, was given a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after she went to the other side of the net to point out where she thought the ball had landed - and then demanded the tournament referee be called.
Graf held that game for 1-2 but Hingis held for 3-1.
The German player, whose mother and father were both in the crowd, called on every ounce-
of her experience as she fought back to lead 4-3.
Hingis was jeered when she smashed a ball courtwards when Graf had break point for 5-3but the world number one held for 4-4 after one particularly memorable rally which ended with Graf missing the simplest of smashes.
Hingis broke Graf for 5-4 and then served for the match --but was broken to 30 after a tired and unwise drop shot.
Graf, suddenly cool and collected. held to love and then broke Hingis to 15 for the set as the teenager began to unravel.
Graf took a 1-0 lead in the decider before both women took a bathroom break - Hingis only returning to the court from the locker room in the nick of time and to more boos from the crowd.
Graf moved to a 3-0 lead after winning six straight games and although Hingis got back to 3-2 the die ... scast.
Hingis again earned the Ire of the crowd w*»h an underarm serve to save the first match Eoint - catching Graf unawares -ut the veteran sealed a second championship point with a drop shot and sealed the win when Hingis sent a backhand long.