SabHingis back
January 23rd 2007 03:09
It’s hard to believe 10 years ago a young prodigy from Switzerland won her first grand slam at the age of 16. Yes, the Swiss miss Martina Hingis has sure been around the game of tennis for a long time and yet she is still only 26 years of age and in another quarter final in a major tournament.
Hingis has had a remarkable career. She was always the young superstar, winning her first tournament at 5 and turning professional at age 14. By 1997, in her 17th year, she was absolute dominant. Hingis appeared in all 4 grand slam finals, with only a shock loss to Iva Majoli in the French Open tarnishing an otherwise flawless year.
Amazingly Hingis reached her peak as a player at 17. She was still a dominant player for the rest of the decade but was overtaken by heavy hitters, including Lindsay Davenport and both Williams sisters.
Hingis still was able to win the Australian Open in 1998 and 1999, whilst losing the US Open those same years. She was consistently the number one player in the world during this period, however the 1999 French Open has often been seen as a turning point in her great career.
The Swiss miss was the hot favourite to defeat ageing great Steffi Graf, and after winning the first set comfortably, had match points in the second. However Hingis lost the set and capitulated in the third, wilting to the crowd’s support for Graf. After the game Hingis was in tears and refused to take part in the trophy ceremony before her mother persuaded her.
Hingis fought back from her French Open disaster by making the US Open final in 1999 and three consecutive Australian Open Finals between 2000-02, but lost all four finals. She had now officially been replaced as the dominant player in the world by Venus and Serena Williams, and by the middle of 2002 injuries crippled her.
Severe foot injures brought the end of one of the great careers in late 2002, at the tender age of 22. There was great sadness amongst the tennis world to see the demise of one of the most talented players the world has seen. The female game in recent years has become a little boring with the stronger hitters dominate, slugging it out on the baseline. Hingis was a delight to watch, with her impeccable angles, and brilliant tennis brain.
There have been rumours of a comeback throughout the years after her premature retirement, and she even played in a few exhibition tournaments in 2005. However Hingis made her comeback in the Gold Coast in January 2006, in preparation for the Australian Open. Remarkably after over three years out of the demanding ruthless sport that is tennis, Hingis made it to the Quarter finals- where she eventually lost to Kim Clijsters.
Her comeback has been nothing short of remarkable. Female tennis has changed drastically since Hingis’s heyday, yet she still managed to end 2006 in the top 10. Her grand slam results after the Australian Open weren’t great but its been an amazing achievement for a player who has really matured and become a fan favourite since her return.
Hingis is now again in the Quarter finals against Clijsters and will be the underdog, but at 26, there still may be a few more slams for the Swiss miss. It’s just been great to see such a brilliant player, who isn’t big and strong, make a great comeback and show the world what a remarkable talent Martina Hingis really is.
Hingis has had a remarkable career. She was always the young superstar, winning her first tournament at 5 and turning professional at age 14. By 1997, in her 17th year, she was absolute dominant. Hingis appeared in all 4 grand slam finals, with only a shock loss to Iva Majoli in the French Open tarnishing an otherwise flawless year.
Amazingly Hingis reached her peak as a player at 17. She was still a dominant player for the rest of the decade but was overtaken by heavy hitters, including Lindsay Davenport and both Williams sisters.
Hingis still was able to win the Australian Open in 1998 and 1999, whilst losing the US Open those same years. She was consistently the number one player in the world during this period, however the 1999 French Open has often been seen as a turning point in her great career.
(Swiss miss)
The Swiss miss was the hot favourite to defeat ageing great Steffi Graf, and after winning the first set comfortably, had match points in the second. However Hingis lost the set and capitulated in the third, wilting to the crowd’s support for Graf. After the game Hingis was in tears and refused to take part in the trophy ceremony before her mother persuaded her.
Hingis fought back from her French Open disaster by making the US Open final in 1999 and three consecutive Australian Open Finals between 2000-02, but lost all four finals. She had now officially been replaced as the dominant player in the world by Venus and Serena Williams, and by the middle of 2002 injuries crippled her.
Severe foot injures brought the end of one of the great careers in late 2002, at the tender age of 22. There was great sadness amongst the tennis world to see the demise of one of the most talented players the world has seen. The female game in recent years has become a little boring with the stronger hitters dominate, slugging it out on the baseline. Hingis was a delight to watch, with her impeccable angles, and brilliant tennis brain.
There have been rumours of a comeback throughout the years after her premature retirement, and she even played in a few exhibition tournaments in 2005. However Hingis made her comeback in the Gold Coast in January 2006, in preparation for the Australian Open. Remarkably after over three years out of the demanding ruthless sport that is tennis, Hingis made it to the Quarter finals- where she eventually lost to Kim Clijsters.
Her comeback has been nothing short of remarkable. Female tennis has changed drastically since Hingis’s heyday, yet she still managed to end 2006 in the top 10. Her grand slam results after the Australian Open weren’t great but its been an amazing achievement for a player who has really matured and become a fan favourite since her return.
Hingis is now again in the Quarter finals against Clijsters and will be the underdog, but at 26, there still may be a few more slams for the Swiss miss. It’s just been great to see such a brilliant player, who isn’t big and strong, make a great comeback and show the world what a remarkable talent Martina Hingis really is.
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Comment by charles
FanFootball
ZCars
Ponderous
She is absolutely no match for the power players in modern day women's tennis, but the retirement of Davenport and the impending retirement of Kim Cljisters may work in her favour.
Charles.
Comment by Social Commentator