Daniela Hantuchova shocked second seed Martina Hingis 6-3 6-4 in the final of the $2.1 million Indian Wells Masters on Saturday to claim her first career singles title.
The 18-year-old Slovakian had been tipped for stardom before her arrival in Indian Wells and lived up to her promise when she took just 75 minutes to tame Swiss Hingis on a cold, blustery centre court.
It was also hard for the near-16,000 crowd to believe what they were seeing as Hantuchova unleashed an array of stunning winners to run Hingis ragged and outplay her opponent in almost every facet of the game.
A confident Hingis, playing in her third Indian Wells final, began the match on a threatening note by breaking Hantuchova's opening serve.
But the 18th seed would not be intimidated by the former world number one and immediately broke back to let the five-time Grand Slam winner know she would have to work hard for her third title of the season.
Displaying unexpected poise, Hantuchova continued her aggressive play to achieve a break at 5-3. She then held serve to take the opening set.
With Hingis shaking her head in frustration, Hantuchova stepped up the pressure by breaking the Swiss to start the second set and refused to allow her opponent back into the match.
When Hingis broke to cut the deficit to 4-2, Hantuchova immediately broke back.
But, serving for the title, Hantuchova's nerves began to fray and Hingis pounced to break.
Hantuchova, however, would not be denied, taking the match with a pinpoint forehand to the corner of the court that left Hingis glued to the baseline watching helplessly.
Hantuchova became the lowest seed to win a Tier I event since 1980. She also pocketed a cheque for $332,000.
The Slovak had already grabbed two major mixed doubles titles. Together with Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe, she won the Australian Open in January and last year Hantuchova and Leos Friedl of the Czech Republic lifted the Wimbledon crown.