CARLSBAD (CALIFORNIA), Aug 4: Former No 1 Monica Seles could not stop the Martina Hingis juggernaut yesterday as the teen queen of tennis claimed her ninth title of the year.

The top-ranked Hingis, clearly in a league of her own these days, outgunned the second-seeded Seles 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in the final of the Toshiba Tennis Classic.

``She's just playing some great tennis,'' Seles said of Hingis after the exciting one hour and 14 minute contest. Steffi (Graf) was in that zone, I was in that zone. She, right now is in that zone.''

The remarkable 16-year-old Swiss sensation, who claimed the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this year, ran her 1997 match record to 54-1 and a perfect 27-0 on hardcourts.

And against Seles, who ruled the women's tennis world earlier in the decade, Hingis took her record to 5-0, including three wins in finals this year.

Woodruff triumphs

MONTREAL: Chris woodruff's climb on the ATP circuit has reached another milestone when he recorded his first tournament victory at the Du Maurier Canadian Open championships.

The unseeded Woodruff, a native of Tennessee, used aggressive play and a strong serve to upset sixth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 before a full house of 10,500 at Du Maurier Stadium yesterday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.