Hingis-Novotna win doubles

PARIS, June 7: Swiss Martina Hingis, beaten in the semifinals of the women8217;s singles by Monica Seles, gained a measure of compensation today when she won the French Open women8217;s doubles title alongside Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic.

Hingis and Novotna, the second-seeds, defeated top-seeds Lindsay Davenport of the United States and Natasha Zvereva of Belarus 6-1, 7-6 7-4.

It was Hingis8217; first victory in the event at Roland Garros but Novotna had earliers won the crown in 1990 alongside Helena Sukova and in 1991 with Gigi Fernandez.

Zvereva had been hoping to win the doubles title for a seventh time.She first won the event in 1989 with Larisa Savchenko and then triumphed with Gigi fernandez in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.