Another season, another WTA comeback rumor! This one’s recycled: Martina Hingis is hinting she wants to return to tour. . .or is she?
“I cannot imagine a life without tennis,” Martina Hingis told the Berlin Kurier newspaper on Sunday before beating Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 6-4, in an exhibition match outside Berlin. “It’s still so much fun for me. I’d like to play more exhibition matches and see what happens. Past that, I just don’t know at the moment.”
She tried to back out of this statement after the match, saying: “I don’t want to train every day anymore, but I would like to play more exhibitions. I have already had offers from the USA.”
Sure Martina. It’s obvious that “I just don’t know at the moment” means “I just don’t know until I get that French Open wild card.” (Roland Garros is the one Major singles title that’s eluded her, despite two finals appearances – very similar to Justine Henin’s history at Wimbledon. Hmmm)
Martina had this to say about the return of Belgians:
“I think the women’s game is somewhat monotonous at the moment. The young girls all play the same way, whereas Justine and Kim are successful because they vary their game.”
And who else was known for her variety and court sense?
Hingis retired with foot problems in 2003, after winning 5 Major singles titles. She returned to the sport in 2006, winning three WTA tour titles – including a mixed doubles trophy at the Australian Open – but was soon stopped when she tested positive for (a very small) amount of cocaine at the 2007 Wimbledon. She decided to retire rather than fight a 2 year ban from the sport, which expired in September, 2009. Hingis is now 29 years old.
Her exo opponent, Lindsay Davenport, was more clear in her intentions: “If I play again it will only be at selected events and only then for fun.”
Just don’t call it a comeback, ‘kay?
Quotes via AFP
What do you think about Martina Hingis’s comeback plans?
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