Hingis picks up where she left off

MARTINA HINGIS looked as if she’d never been away.

Playing on the centre court where she won three of her five Grand Slam titles before retiring for three years, the Swiss star was right at home in the first major of her comeback effort, routing 30th-seeded Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open.

Some had questioned Hingis’ condition during warmup tournaments. But she moved well and looked sharp, confident and relaxed.