| 
The TENNISREPORTERS.NET Newsletter: TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 9, NO. 60
Hingis: It would take a miracle to come
back
Works on tour as TV commentator
By Brad Falkner
Special to tennisreporters.net
Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA
|
When Martina Hingis arrived
at the Stefan Edberg/Meghann Shaughnessy Adidas Fantasy Camp in
Scottsdale, Ariz. on its final morning, most campers weren't surprised,
just impressed. "We kept hearing that Martina would be coming.
But when we saw her out on the court hitting, it was awesome,"
said camper Eric Lee.
Though she has not competed on the WTA Tour for over a year, five-time
Slam champ Hingis is still a crowd favorite. But the 22-year-old
Swiss made it very clear that her retirement was permanent.
"It would take a miracle
for me to be able to play professional tennis again. Something
magical would have to happen," said Hingis, who underwent
foot and ankle surgery in 2002. "Even doubles is not a possibility
with the injury that I have."
Hingis' passion for the game is evident and she confessed that
she misses life on the circuit, but not the pressure. "I
miss my friends from tennis. I don't miss all of the stress that
goes with it," Hingis said.
COMFORTABLE AS COMMENTATOR
The former No. 1 has found a new vocation
that allows her to keep her pulse squarely on the beat of women's
tennis. European fans can catch her on Sky TV as a color commentator,
a role that Hingis admits came as a real surprise. "If you
would have told me a year ago that I would be a tennis broadcaster,
I would not have believed it." Her first gig in TV occurred
last month at the WTA Championships.
Although no longer able to compete Hingis still yearns to be involved
with the game and has been avid follower of both the men's and
women's tours. Her favorite players are Kim Clijsters and Justine
Henin-Hardenne on the women's side (not surprising considering
she never had rivalries with them) and countryman Roger Federer
on the men's.
"I was so impressed
with Roger at the Masters Cup. He's got such a beautiful game
and played great tennis during that tournament," she said.
"[Andre] Agassi showed that he is still one of the [best]
players that even at his age is still playing incredible tennis."
CLIJSTERS READY TO WIN SLAM
Hingis is impressed with the current state
of women's game and was especially taken with the impeccable play
of Clijsters at the Championships. "I was very impressed
with how Kim was hitting the ball and playing," she said.
"I definitely think that she will win a Grand Slam. She is
one of my favorites to watch as well and Justine and the Williams
sisters."
WTA
|
When asked how she might fare against
the top players, Hingis responded, "I would need to improve
my serve, that was something that I was always working on when
I was still on the tour. Now you also have to spend a lot of time
in the gym to improve physically and to make your body stronger."
Giving back to the game is a cliché often over heard in
tennis. Hingis is appreciative of all that the game has given
her and is ready to give back. "Tennis gave me everything
that I have today. I feel so fortunate to have the freedom and
independence and to be able to have the life I have. So when you
ask me if I miss playing, sure, but I had a great career and still
have such a full and active life. I really consider myself very
lucky."
When the tour resumes next month, Hinges will return to Melbourne,
where she won the Australian Open three times. However, this time
she won't be sweating it out against Jennifer Capriati in the
final, but again carrying a microphone.
"I loved the Australian Open," she said. "I really
liked playing on the Rebound Ace and I always played great there.
This year the tournament will be so exciting, with Kim, Justine,
Lindsay [Davenport] and the Williamses coming back. I'm really
looking forward to it. I think Kim could win here first Slam there."
|
