KOLKATA: Apologies at the outset for overestimating Melinda Czink’s prowess earlier. She was simply no match for Martina Hingis, the tournament’s top seed progressing smoothly into the next round with a clinical 6-1 6-2 win over the Hungarian.
 
On second thoughts, may be she was unlucky, and there’s no prejudice involved here as well. It’s in fact a reality.
 
The Hungarian was supposed to get the final seeding till Russian Anastassia Rodionova came in from nowhere, leaving Czink with the herculean task of facing Hingis first up.
 
The match, billed as ‘the contest’ of the opening round, turned out to be a damp squib as Hingis steamrolled over her hapless opponent in less than 50 minutes.
 
The tenor of the match was decided in the opening game itself as the top seed broke Czink’s serve.
 
The top seed, on her part, didn’t have to do anything spectacular.
 
There were moments of brilliance for sure but any hopes of a superlative display was put to rest by Czink’s generosity.
 
Hingis will meet Israel’s Tzipora Obziler in the next round.
 
In other matches, Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus beat Anne Keothavong of Great Britain 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3, while fourth seed Aravane Rezai of France was simply too good for Indian wildcard entry Ankita Bhambri, winning 6-2 7-6 (7-3).