JUST in time for the most critical period of the tennis year, Martina Hingis announced her comeback as one to savour yesterday. In lifting the Italian Open title at a sun-kissed Foro Italico in Rome, Hingis laid down a significant marker for Roland Garros, the one grand-slam tournament she has never been able to win, which begins next Sunday.

Hingis defeated the No 16 seed, Dinara Safina — the Russian who has emerged as a decent outside bet herself — 6-2, 7-5 for the 41st title of her career and the first since her return to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in January. The result and, in particular, the manner of her recovery from losing a 6-0 first set to Venus Williams in the semi-final, were sure signs the former world No 1 is once again a real force to be reckoned with.

Safina tried for all she was worth, she saved three match points with positive intent but Hingis, in her old, unflustered, classy way was one shot too good in most of the rallies. Her rise through the sport, which started five months ago when she did not even have a world ranking, to a place among the top 20, is astonishing. “I am a good horse (to back for the French Open) but am still an underdog,” she said. “I never honestly thought I would be back here again.”

The ATP Tour has a first-time Masters champion after Tommy Robredo, the Spaniard who was beaten in the first round of the Italian Open two weeks ago by Greg Rusedski, defeated Radek Stepanek, of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 to secure the Hamburg title. Robredo moves inside the world’s top ten for the first time. “I am very, very proud, there have been a lot of great champions here,” he said.