Sports news > Tennis news > Time for Martina Hingis to call it a day
Time for Martina Hingis to call it a day
The former Swiss No. 1 shouldn't be thinking about playing again, even in invitational events. There is nothing left for her to achieve.
by Chris Goldsmith on 12 March 2008
Email this Article (5) Comments
There is no doubt that Martina Hingis is a tennis revelation. She is a true champion and a legend on the WTA tour. Allegations of testing positive for cocaine have marred her recent performances but many think the Swiss Miss should never have come back after retiring early in her career with a foot injury.
The Hingis style of play has been overtaken by the power and big hitting of girls like Lindsay Davenport, the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova. The gentle drop shots and clever placement of Hingis still work in tennis matches but the power aspect is becoming more important, and although Hingis is not 'powerless' she hasn't got the same strength as some of her opponents.
Hingis started out as a 14-year-old professional, very young even for women's tennis. She won a total of 43 singles and 37 doubles tournaments in her career, including five Grand Slam titles. She was world No. 1 for most of the late 1990s and took over from Steffi Graf and Monica Seles as the new star on the WTA tour.
Unfortunately, when Hingis returned from her 'mid tennis career break' the women's game had changed, and not to her liking. In 2006 she did win two tournaments, including an impressive display in Rome. She also had good wins over top ranked players, including some of those 'power' hitters like Venus and Serena Williams.
Comments (5)
on March 12, 2008 on March 12, 2008
Martina has moved on. She's training with her horses , the tournament directors wants her becouse they know she' bring more fans than any other player ( only Scharapova,Serena and Venus have the same power).
by Justyn Smith on March 13, 2008
It is true that Martina has been overpowered by many power hitters during her comeback, but she performed fantastic matches within a short period of time. A lot of people view success when players win titles, but that's not what tennis is all about. There is still definitely a room for Martina in the tennis court!
by Eric Capacia on March 13, 2008
Hingis no matter where you look at is one of the greatest player Tennis has ever produced. Power game did not stopped her, it was more of the personal issues she had: confidence, morale and her stamina.
by Jim Sentance on March 13, 2008
I don't see how you can say there's no room in tennis for someone who can play their way into the top ten, and beat a fair share of the very top players. Yes the game has changed, but I don't see a lot of people saying its changed for the better. Far beyond the personal success, I think the real value of her comeback was to prove to others younger and fitter than herself that you could still win with strategy and finesse. If tennis has a future as a game people are interested in watching, it will be if players take up her example and make it interesting.
by Sakib Jalil on March 14, 2008
Hi just would like to point out one misinformation here in reference to your 5th paragraph which is after returning to tennis in 2006 Martina Hingis did not beat Serena Williams. She did however beat Venus Williams in Rome. Thank You.
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