MELBOURNE: Martina Hingis has another Grand Slam title, her 15th, just a month into her comeback.

The 25-year-old Hingis teamed with India's Mahesh Bhupathi to beat Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday in the Australian Open mixed doubles final.

Hingis, returning from a three-year retirement because of foot and heel injuries, also had a successful run in the singles competition, making it to the quarterfinals before losing to Kim Clijsters.

Dream

``If anyone asks me why I came back, this is why, the dream of being back on court, of winning major titles,'' Hingis said.

Hingis, who began her comeback in early January at a tournament on the Gold Coast, lost her serve when she and Bhupathi were up a break in the first set at 4-2. But they immediately broke Likhovtseva's serve for a 5-3 lead.

After the teams traded breaks early in the second set, Likhovtseva again had problems on her serve — two volleying errors by the Russian gave Hingis and Bhupathi three break points.

They needed only one, breaking for a 4-3 lead when Bhupathi pounced on a volley at the net.

Hingis ran up to Bhupathi and gave him a hug at the T-line when Nestor's attempted backhand return hit the net at Rod Laver Arena to end the match.

Hingis has five Grand Slam singles titles — three of them at the Australian Open. She has nine Grand Slam women's doubles championships among her 36 career titles but her previous best mixed doubles result was a semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open in 1996.

Eight of Hingis' Grand Slam titles have been at Melbourne Park, including doubles crowns in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002.

Different partners

It was Bhupathi's sixth Grand Slam mixed doubles title — with six partners. He also has three men's major doubles titles.

``He's the man right now in mixed doubles and also in doubles,'' Hingis said of Bhupathi. ``Just next to him, it gives you so much satisfaction and security that you have to put the serve and returns in and he does the rest. You have someone to carry you all the way.''

Bhupathi said he jumped at the chance to play with Hingis.

``As soon as I saw she was playing, winning matches, I just kind of shot a quick e-mail to her agent,'' said Bhupathi. ``Fortunately, I got the positive answer and I think the rest is history.''

Bhupathi said despite Hingis' layoff, her form was excellent.

``She's got so much time, she's got so much variation on her shots,'' said Bhupathi. ``I just had to take care of my side most of the time. I know if they attack her, she's always ready. That makes life a lot more easy on the mixed doubles court.''

Not confident

Hingis said she took on mixed doubles because she wasn't confident how long she'd last in singles.

``It's just I wouldn't think that I'm going to get this far in,'' Hingis said. ``I got the e-mail, I'm like right away it will be great ... you don't want to lose first round (in singles) and have to stick around for the next two weeks doing nothing.''

Hingis said her singles result put her comeback on track — and then some.

``It would be an underestimation ... I played well first tournament to be back, and making the quarterfinals right away,'' said Hingis.

Bhupathi has his own assessment of Hingis — a top-five ranking by the middle of the year.

``I told her also after the match I think it's just going to take two or three months and then she's going to be able to handle the top three, four,'' said Bhupathi.

``The pace is obviously different from three years ago. But once she starts playing a few matches at that level, I think she's going to be able to handle it. I'll be very surprised actually after Wimbledon if she's not in the top five.'' — AP

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