That matter of a major dogs Hingis' comeback
Martina Hingis has proven she can hang with today's stars, but can she win another Grand Slam?
By IZZY GOULD
Published June 26, 2006
The All England Club stood, cheered and marveled at the youngest singles champion in 110 years at Wimbledon. They were entranced by the 16-year-old girl standing at Centre Court as she lofted the silver salver for all of England to see.
Many were convinced this was the coronation of tennis' next superstar.
Martina Hingis returns to those hallowed grass courts this week for the first time in five years. She no longer is a prodigy, rather a 25 year old months into a comeback after ankle injuries forced the Wesley Chapel resident to retire in 2003.
The question: Can she add a sixth Grand Slam title to her resume?
"The comeback has been tremendous," tennis analyst Mary Carillo said. "She didn't come back as some sort of anecdotal lark. She came back fit and prepared. She tested the waters of World Team Tennis last summer and recognized that she still had plenty of game and desire."
Hingis is seeded 12th and faces Olga Savchuk when play begins today. She appears to have a smooth path to the third round, where she could run into eighth-seeded Patty Schnyder.
Various factors have driven the former No. 1 to what many have considered a successful return.
"She's got a little of the swagger back," U.S. Davis Cup captain and analyst Patrick McEnroe said. "She's worked very hard. She's fitter than she was when she was dominating as a teenager. She knew she had to do that to compete. The big question that still remains is can she win another Slam title? A few things have to go right for that to happen."
Hingis has proven to be resilient throughout her climb to 15th in the WTA Tour rankings. She won the Italian Open in Rome and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian and French opens for a 35-11 record.
"I had some great matches in the last six months," Hingis told reporters after her quarterfinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the French. "It definitely was worthwhile coming back and playing, just having some great emotions and moments back on court.
"I never regret one minute of coming back."
Hingis has run into the powerful Clijsters - ranked and seeded second - in both Grand Slam appearances this year. She fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 at the Australian and 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 at the French.
If they meet again, it would be in the quarterfinals.
"She's very powerful, very physically strong from difficult situations," Hingis said. " ... You know, her game is on a very high level. You have to be ready to be pushing her. Otherwise, if you let her dictate, she's too good."
To strengthen her chances of returning to top form, Hingis said she will not play doubles for the foreseeable future. That should help her conserve energy.
At Wimbledon she could benefit from playing on grass.
"This kid understands grass," Carillo said. "She hasn't the power and physical resources of so many women in that draw. I think grass will beef up her serve. It will allow her to find angles of the court that a lot of women - or men - even dream about trying to explore."
For Hingis, Wimbledon has been the venue for some of her most precious memories. Her first sip of victory came at 15 after she won the doubles title alongside Helena Sukova in 1996. She won her second doubles trophy there in 1998 alongside Jana Novotna, whom she defeated for her first Wimbledon title.
"She's not going to beat herself," McEnroe said. "There are certainly women capable of overpowering her. Martina's been an incredible story."
Information from Times wires was used in the report.