Tokyo:Former world number one Martina Hingis claimed a record fifth Pan Pacific Opentitle, beating fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2.

The 26-year-old Swiss Miss added to the titles she won here in 1997, 1999,2000 and 2002.

"I knew before the match that I could make the record. I really feel athome being here in front of the crowd and the public have been supporting methe last 10 years I've been able to play here," said Hingis.

"Last year, I was already happy to make the final. I had a win overMaria Sharapova, and this year Ana was the winner over her. I think the lasttime we played was also in the final, so I had nothing to lose basically," she said.

"She had a great tournament to get into the finals. Now we have 1-1(head-to-head against Ivanovic), so hopefully there will be many more finalsagainst each other," she said.

Ivanovic, who lost her opening service game after four deuces, fired acouple of fine service return winners to tie the first set 2-2, but it was herlast break opportunity of the match.

Hingis proved the better player in long rallies, winning 19 points in a rowfrom 30-30 in the eighth game to 0-15 in the third game of the second set.

After losing the first set, a disappointed Ivanovic hit three double faultsto lose the first game of the second set, and never recovered, allowing Hingisto chalk up a 4-0 lead before cruising to victory.

Hingis notched up a new personal best for the most titles at a single event,besting the four trophies she took home at Filderstadt between 1996 and 2000.

Former world number one Lindsay Davenport of the United States had also won four titles in Tokyo between 1997 and 2004.

With her first victory of the season, which brought her a 182,000-dollarcheque, Hingis avenged her two-set loss to Ivanovic at the Montreal final in August last year in theironly previous encounter.

"The last time I played her, she had a very fast start, she had a greatmatch in Montreal last year when I lost to her in the finals, so after that shegets confidence," said Hingis.

"She just goes for her shots, hits a lot of winners. After the firstset, I gained the momentum and in the first game she double faulted threetimes, I said 'OK, I'll take that'.

"I think against someone like her you have to force to make thoseerrors, they just don't happen. In the second set Ana made too many unforcederrors, so she felt the pressure of having to take the risk," addedHingis.

It was Hingis's third title since she made a comeback a year ago from foot,heel and ankle injuries, and her 43rd overall, including three at theAustralian Open, one at Wimbledon and one atthe US Open.

Meanwhile 19-year-old Ivanovic said: "At the beginning of the match itwas a high quality of tennis, and then suddenly I dropped my concentration alittle bit. I started to feel heavy, so I found it hard to move."

"I started to feel better at the end of the second set, but it was toolate. She was playing really well, defending unbelievably. She just played anunbelievable match today," she added.