Lindsay Davenport produced an overwhelming performance to beat Martina Hingis 64, 6-2, in the Chase Championships final at Madison Square Garden yesterday. The American needed only 63 minutes to sweep aside the defending champion and gain revenge for her defeat at the same stage last year.

The extent of her domination is illustrated by the fact that she hit 36 clean winners and made 12 unforced errors; the statistics for Hingis were 10 winners and seven errors.

Afterwards Davenport said she thought it was the best match she has ever played. She made the perfect start, breaking the Hingis serve in the first game with a sweeping cross-court backhand. Hingis won her second service game, which went to three deuces, but two games later Davenport broke through again to move 4-1 in front. Hingis recovered one of the breaks in the next game, as she began to move the American around the court, and when she held serve to love to reduce the deficit at 3-4 the final began to come alive.

Hingis seemed poised to draw level when she stood 0-30 on the Davenport serve at 4-5, but her opponent responded by winning the next four points and the set.

Davenport soon had an opportunity to strengthen her grip on the match, but could not convert a break point in the opening game of the second set. However two games later she broke the Hingis serve for the third time. Davenport then broke through again to lead 5-2. It only remained for the world number two to serve out for the match. She did so, also to love, with three aces to claim the season-ending title for the first time on her third appearance in the final. And with it went a cheque for £312,000.

Davenport has now won all three matches against the world number one this year. Hingis retains her place at the top of the world rankings, but knows that in 2000 she faces a real challenge for the top spot.