Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova have both led colourful lives on the WTA tour - though their careers differed considerably.

Hingis was the bigger success on the court. Her five Grand Slam victories will hold her up as a tennis great and her three years as world No.1 further enhances this claim.

The Swiss star's 43 tournament victories put her up in the same league as Monica Seles, Justine Henin and the Williams sisters. She really is a star. However, her ban for taking cocaine while playing in a tournament has marred her career and she looks likely never to return to the WTA tour as she will be nearly 30 when she returns.

'Martina Navratilova was even winning tournaments in her 40s. The question is, would Kournikova be tempted by the botox before then?!'


Kournikova's career started well with a semi-final spot at Wimbledon. However, injury and constant media attention prevented her having Hingis's success on the court. The Russian made the best of her 'assets' to earn her money outside of the sport, though she does still regularly play in exhibition matches in the USA.  She has never officially retired from tennis - and is still only 26 years!

Although Hingis and Kournikova are never likely to play singles competitively again, wouldn't it be great to see them competing together in doubles again? The doubles game is much different and is based more on tactics and skill rather than the 'power' game of singles. 

Both players have had success on the doubles court. Hingis has won 37 career titles including a brilliant nine Grand Slam titles. She has played with several long-term doubles partners including Czech players Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova, Belarusian Natalie Zvereva and Spanish star Aranxta Sanchez Vicario. 

But Hingis had some of her best success in past years with none other than her friend Kournikova.  The doubles team have won 11 tournaments while playing together including the Australian Open in 1999 and 2002 and the Tour-ending championships of 1999 and 2000. Kournikova has another five doubles tournaments to her name and both players have been ranked world No.1 in doubles.

The pair are an ideal partnership and would go down a storm if they decided to play together again, even if it was just a one-off tournament.  The skill of Hingis and the glamour of Kournikova would whip the media into a frenzy and make women's doubles something to talk about again.

No doubt they would be a success, too. Many doubles players can play into their mid-30s so there is plenty of time left for the legends. Martina Navratilova was even winning tournaments in her 40s. The question is, would Kournikova be tempted by the botox before then?!

Maybe this is just a fantasy of mine to see two greats join forces again, but what a fantasy to have! And you never know, if the right people speak to the right people then it could happen.

As already mentioned I don't think either lady is going to have success in singles again - and doubles would be an ideal opportunity for both to continue their careers!

Maybe even an exhibition match could be arranged and televised for charity? Hingis and Kournikova versus the Williams sisters. Wow, that would be a talking point for years to come!