DIANA NOVOTNA ruined Martina Hingis's homecoming party yesterday by beating her 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the European indoor championship in Zurich. Ignoring an understandably partisan Swiss crowd, Novotna needed just 63 minutes to collect her 12th career title and her second of the season.

The Czech completely dominated the clash, allowing the 16-year-old Swiss to hold serve just twice and shattering Hingis's hopes of a second tournament win to add to her triumph in Filderstadt, Germany, last week.

Hingis appeared tentative and nervous from the outset and failed to hold serve in the opening set. She looked like she might recover when she held her serve to open the second set, but Novotna broke her at 3-1 and went on to clinch the match with an ace.

Hingis continues to inch her way up the world rankings despite the loss - she moves up one place to eighth.