World No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain is hoping to launch the new year with a title-winning performance at the ATP Tour’s Chennai Open as he strives to carry his impressive form into 2007. The Chennai Open is a US$416,000 (?315,000) hard-court tournament that will also feature World No. 8 David Nalbandian of Argentina and former tournament winners Carlos Moya of Spain and Paradorn Srichaphan of…

Nikolay Davydenko wants to use the Qatar Open to boost his confidence ahead of the Australian Open. “This is the first tournament of the year and I am just looking to play well and gain in confidence ahead of the Australian Open,” the 25-year-old Russian said. The Qatar Open starts Monday in Doha, while the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Jan.

Martina Hingis beat Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2 Sunday at the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championship, where she started her successful comeback year. The former top-ranked Hingis returned here last season after three years on the sideline and reached the semifinals. She later reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, an event she won three straight times beginning in 1997.

Martina Hingis beat Austria’s Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday at the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championship to cap off a successful comeback year. The former top-ranked Hingis returned here last season after three years on the sidelines and reached the semifinals. Weeks later, she made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, an event she won three consecutive years from 1997.