Hingis drops Kournikova, picks Seles

Perth, January 1: Swiss World No 1 women's tennis player Martina Hingis and glamorous Russian Anna Kournikova have ended their partnership in women's doubles, Hingis confirmed here on Monday.

The split follows reports of a row between Hingis and Kournikova at a singles exhibition match in Chile a month ago.

Hingis, while not commenting directly on the reported break-up, said here: ``I want to be more independent. I have played a lot of tennis and I was very tired at the end of the season.

``We (Hingis and Kournikova) played two exhibitions at the end of the year, and now I just don't want to play that much doubles.

``It was a lot of fun playing with her... but I just don't want an all-year partner.

``I will play with Monica in Melbourne, but we will see how it goes, and then I just will continue to play, with her or somebody else. I just want to concentrate more on the singles.''

Hingis has won 30 doubles titles, including eight Grand Slams, one of them -- at the Australian Open two years ago -- in partnership with Kournikova.

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