Hingis Keeps Rivalry One-Sided

By JULIE CART

June 1, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

PARIS — If it is an accepted theory that sport needs to be infused with youthful talent in order to regenerate itself, women’s tennis is in great shape.

Not only is there a crop of young, gifted players embarking on the tour, but they conveniently come equipped with existing rivalries. The Martina Hingis-Anna Kournikova rivalry promises to provide years of exciting on- and off-court action.

It resumed Saturday, in the third round of the French Open, where the two teenagers picked up the competition just as they had left it in juniors. Hingis, seeded No. 1, continued her dominance of the glamorous young Russian, who has never beaten her but almost always gains as much attention.

Hingis won, 6-1, 6-3, and in 42 minutes laid out a plot line for years to come. In fact, the handful of teenage players here have dominated the story lines for the past week.

Almost unnoticed, third-seeded Monica Seles has dropped only 12 games in four matches, but her progress through the draw has been as silent as it has been efficient. Seles defeated Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-0, 6-1, to advance to the Round of 16.

When it comes to attention from media and fans, Seles has been there and glad to step aside.

“Definitely, the attention at this tournament is mostly on Venus [Williams], [Martina] Hingis and Anna [Kournikova] right now,” Seles said. “They’re the youngsters. It’s great.”

Mary Pierce never lacks for attention, and is gaining a larger following among her countrymen, who enjoy Pierce when she’s winning. Even if she beats another Frenchwoman. Pierce did that Saturday, defeating Sandrine Testud, 6-1, 6-3.

Pierce, seeded No. 10, suffered from the same intestinal virus that hit Pete Sampras and others here. She was weakened and dizzy at times during the match but was able to play her usual aggressive game under windy conditions.

Sixth-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who turned pro at 13, rolled over Dominique van Roost of Belgium, 6-0, 6-3. Brenda Schultz-McCarthy of the Netherlands, seeded No. 14, was the only seeded player to lose among the women. Natasha Zvereva of Belarus won, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Lisa Raymond defeated Kimberly Po, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, in a battle of Americans.

It was far from the most interesting match, but the Hingis-Kournikova contest was fascinating for its internal politics. Each player presents a smiley-face to the public and has been skating along on the goodwill that naturally extends to children. However, each has revealed considerable temperament.

Their history is long. The two competed in junior tennis at the same time, rising like twin stars. Their career paths have forked, however.

Unlike Hingis, Kournikova is operating under new rules that went into effect just before she turned pro. Hingis and Venus Williams, then 14, were the last two players allowed to join the tour with no restrictions.

Kournikova has rued her timing ever since. She has watched as Hingis has been playing full time and gaining tour experience. She has stewed as Williams--who has the right to play as many events as she wishes--has stayed home and actually played fewer tournaments than Kournikova.

For all of her complaining, Kournikova is an exception to the rules. She has been allowed to “play up”: thus, at 15 she’s operating under rules meant for 16-year-olds. She is restricted to playing only 10 tour events plus the four Grand Slam tournaments.

When she turns 16 on Saturday, Kournikova will be allowed to play 13 tour events a year plus the Grand Slam tournaments, a scheduled allowed 17-year-olds.

Kournikova takes to this rule as any teenager would to being grounded.

“This match is a perfect example [of how] I’m not allowed to play more,” Kournikova said. “I have much more pressure on me because I cannot play as much as I want, learn, and get experience the way Martina can.”

Hingis has, indeed, learned much from her three years on the tour. She’s well informed about the power that accrues to the top player in the world. Case in point was Saturday’s schedule. Hingis originally was scheduled to play first on center court. At her request, the schedule was changed, bumping up Seles, a three-time champion here.

The end result of the shuffle was that, rather than playing at 11 a.m., Hingis began about 2 p.m.

Asked to confirm that she requested the change, Hingis said, “Of course, it was my request because I am not a very good morning person. . . .”

“I’m No. 1 in the world, so I should have the right if I’m going to play on center court to say what time I want to play.”

Hingis said her morning regimen includes special warmups for her injured knee. “I have a lot to do,” she said. “I’m not going to wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning to go to practice, warm up my knee.”

Hingis is learning--and quickly--how to get others to cater to her wishes. Professional tennis can do that to anyone.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Round 4: Featured Matches

MEN

* Yevgeny Kafelnikov (3)

vs. Mark Philippoussis

* Alex Corretja (8) vs. Filip Dewulf

* Marc Rosset (16) vs. Magnus Norman

WOMEN

* Martina Hingis (1) vs. Barbara Paulus (16)

* Steffi Graf (2) vs. Irina Spirlea (13)

* Monica Seles (3) vs. Mary Pierce (10)