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Martina Hingis
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Martina Hingis
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Martina Hingis defeats Aiko Nakamura 6-1, 6-2.

Q. A little bit easier than the first round. How pleased were you with your play?

MARTINA HINGIS: Oh, definitely I think, yeah, I could only be happy that I was still in the draw. So try to make the best out of it. I think today first game was pretty key, first couple games, because I held serve being down 40 15. Then also she was she had game points on her own serve and didn't make it. Then I just kind of swept through it, through the first set, broke her down a little bit mentally that she could not kind of finish the games. I think the score was a lot more than what the match kind of showed because 6 1, 6 2, I beat her like that last time we played in Australia. It was definitely much more difficult today, especially in the beginning. I just tried to focus and keep the momentum.

Q. You said the other day that given your injuries, how little preparation you had, you didn't really see yourself as a contender for the title, but you just wanted to compete here very badly. Do you now, after a match like this, begin to see yourself as a contender for the title maybe?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I'm just really looking to the next step because, like I said, I'm building up. I can only get better. Every day I'm winning on condition and match practice, also confidence. When you only hit for like two weeks and you go into a Grand Slam like that. I've always been very realistic in my life. That brought me also always very far. I think every day is great for me. That was the same when I made the finals at the French Open after coming back from surgery. You know, I was 17 only then. It's been 10 years. But I'm in a different position now. I really take every match as it comes, try to make the best of it.

Q. Does it seem like a long time to you, 10 years, that you won here? Does it seem like a whole lifetime ago for you? When you look at pictures from yourself at that Wimbledon, what do you think?

MARTINA HINGIS: When you look back, wow, it's been 10 years, I had a wonderful career I can look back to. You think like you're going to play forever at 17. You're like, okay, I'm going to win this and that. When it's happening, you're invincible. Then you're like, wow, I'm just actually really happy to be playing still. I can be only proud of what I've already achieved.

Q. How are you different? When you look at pictures of yourself 10 years ago and now, how are you a different person now?

MARTINA HINGIS: I'd say I was a little bit more chubby back then. No, I don't know. I mean, it was enough to win I guess. It was good enough. I think as a teenager, you're just really growing into a phase that you gain weight. I'm definitely not proud of the way I looked. I think it was also in the papers back then. It's always in the tabloids in England. You know, when I was holding the trophy, it didn't matter. It was just a great moment at that time. I grew out of it. You have to be in better shape today.

Q. I'm asking as a person, how are you different today?

MARTINA HINGIS: The tennis world is very fast moving. You have to mature early, otherwise the media's going to eat you up alive. Definitely come a long way and met some great people. I made a lot of friends on the tour. Tennis always gave me everything I wanted. I'm very happy that I was allowed to have a way like that.

Q. You looked a little unfamiliar with the surroundings today. Have you played on that court before?

MARTINA HINGIS: Never. But it's a good court, I guess. Lucky 13. I don't mind.

Q. You came on court, shrugged your shoulders.

MARTINA HINGIS: I didn't know where the people are sitting. I was asking her if she knew where the players' seats area was. That was the only thing. I was once before I think meant to play on Court 13, and they changed me to 18 in a rain delay or something. That's the only time. But the last time I played there was like this week, I hit there with Kuznetsova. It wasn't a great memory. I'm like, I got to do better today than what I did. I was familiar with the court at least. I got to hit on it.

Q. In your years away from tennis, did you find anything that gave you a similar satisfaction and enjoyment that tennis had done?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think family, private life, health, it's different. You can't really compare those things. Definitely the joy on court you have when you win is one thing. You have the family. That's a whole different story. If you're happy in your relationship, I think there's not many greater things. Being healthy. Maybe also my horses, when I go out, be by myself and the horses. You just gallop as fast as you want. That's also some great moments. I think I was very fortunate to have great moments. I'm looking forward to many more to have.

Q. You were world comeback of the year. What do you do the year after the comeback year? What did you hope to do?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I didn't put any sights on anything particular. I just wanted to come back and play. That's all. I was hoping definitely to make the top 10, to make it back there, to participate, to be able to play with the best.

Q. Some of the slams are creating these regional swings, like the US Open Series. They're talking about it for other majors. Do you think the US Open Series has had any impact? If so, how?

MARTINA HINGIS: The tournaments prior to the US Open?

Q. Correct, that packaging of tournaments.

MARTINA HINGIS: I think every player, if you are No. 1 ranked in the US Open Series, you win the US Open, you double up your prize money. That's one thing that you know.

Q. From a broader perspective, do you think it has any impact with the public?

MARTINA HINGIS: It's hard to say. I mean, you're at the tournaments. I don't watch that much TV. I know I had to do a couple commercials during the event in Indian Wells. I think they're pretty well done, and the buses that drive from New York, I think they're pretty cool as well.

Q. Do you have contact with fans? Do they talk about it to you?

MARTINA HINGIS: Not really. I don't know. You tell me. I'm not that much outside. You're pretty much inside the arena, inside the world of trying to promote it. Actually, I never had really feedback from the fans, how they respond to it. It's your job to find out, not to ask me. I mean, I don't know. You have to tell me how the fans react to that (laughter).

Q. What is it you really love about the involvement with horses?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think it's a great creature. It's a beautiful animal. So powerful, gives you so much energy. When you're out on the trails, just really the force of the horse. You're kind of in control sometimes. It's just amazing. I always loved things with speed. That's why I love skiing. I like cars. Horses are a different way. It's a little bit of a risk, too. I know. I try not to go to the limits, push it to the limits, always know where the area of limits are. I mean, of course, you can't always tell. I don't know. You're never alone.

Q. Did you know the Wimbledon champion Maureen Connolly had a serious horseback injury?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it can happen any time. Other people have car accidents.

Cavaday drawn against Hingis
 
Naomi Cavaday
Chislehurst’s Naomi Cavaday has been given the daunting prospect of facing former champion Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon next week.

The hotly-tipped 18-year-old was drawn against the Swiss sensation who, in 1997, became the youngest ever Wimbledon champion at the tender age of 16.

Cavaday, currently ranked 233 in the world, was given a wildcard entry into this year’s tournament. Hingis, ranked nine, will go into the match hot favourite.

However, Cavaday is capable of springing a shock.

Wimbledon chiefs have yet to confirm the date, time and court of the match.

Hingis pulls out of French Open
 
Former world number one Martina Hingis has pulled out of the French Open because of a hip injury.

The 26-year-old, who has yet to add the French to her Grand Slam collection, will be replaced by fellow Swiss Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

Hingis was joined on the withdrawal list by Russian Evgenia Linetskaya, who pulled out for personal reasons.

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan and German Nicolas Kiefer will also both miss the event with wrist injuries.

Hingis has won five Grand Slam singles titles - three Australian Opens, one Wimbledon and one US Open.

The year's second Grand Slam begins at Roland Garros in Paris on 27 May.

Hingis joins injured Sharapova as Rome absentee

Rome- Defending champion Martina Hingis on Friday pulled out of next week's Italian Open with a back injury, joining world number 2 Maria Sharapova on the sidelines. Hingis, who barely struggled through a losing effort on Thursday against compatriot Patty Schnyder in Berlin, is also considered doubtful for the French Open starting in just over a fortnight.

The Swiss won Rome titles in 1998 and last year from five career appearances.

Sharapova, who last played in late March, withdrew earlier this week with a shoulder problem

In 2006, the Russian had to pull from Rome last year only hours before the start of the event due to a foot injury.

The 20-year-old last played at the Foro Italico in 2005, losing a semi-final to Schnyder.

Hingis doubtful for French Open

Martina Hingis

Former world number one Martina Hingis could miss the French Open starting on 27 May because of a back injury.

Hingis lost 6-4 6-0 in the German Open third round to fellow Swiss Patty Schnyder and is already considering missing next week's Italian Open.

"I don't know if it's going to get better that quickly. I'll see how far I get in the next two weeks," she said.

"It's not a lot of time so every day has to be a good day. We'll see. I'm not going to play unless I am 100%."

The French Open is the only Grand Slam Hingis, 26, has never won.

She had already struggled in her second-round win over Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko on Wednesday, and said she regretted playing in Berlin, her first tournament after a six-week injury lay-off.

"It was already a miracle that I won the first-round match," she added. "And it didn't get any easier against Patty.

"I had a problem with the hip flexor and now it has gone to the back but I have to be patient."

Defending champion Nadia Petrova reached the last eight by beating fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3 6-3.

Second-seed Amelie Mauresmo, back after a two-month lay-off, was up 6-2 1-1 against Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko when their match was suspended as darkness fell over the Steffi Graf stadium.

The winner of that match will play Dinara Safina, a 3-6 6-3 6-2 winner over Lucie Safarova, in the quarter-finals.

Earlier, persistent rain meant world number one and top seed Justine Henin was unable to play her third-round tie against unseeded Maria Elena Camerin.

If Henin defeats the Italian she will face Jelena Jankovic, who went tthrough after China's Peng Shuai was forced to retire leading 3-2 in the third set.

Hingis honoured with award

Martina Hingis ゥ Getty ImagesMartina Hingis was a tennis professional at 14, a star by 16 and forced into retirement at 22 because of foot and heel injuries. She just couldn't stay away from the sport that is her life.

"I love to compete. I love the challenge," she said on Thursday, explaining why she came out of retirement two years ago. "I just wanted to give it a try and not to have any regrets when I'm older."

A decade ago at the Family Circle Cup, Hingis became the youngest player in the world to be ranked No 1. She was 16.

Now 26 and two years into her return to the tour, the Swiss player is ranked No 6 in the world, although she missed playing in Charleston this week because of a hip injury that she said would take about a month to heal.

On Thursday, Hingis was honoured with the Meredith Inspiration Award, given by the publisher of Family Circle magazine to a professional athlete who has inspired women around the world.

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Name ...... Martina Hingis
Birthdate ...... September 30, 1980
Birthplace ...... Kosice, Czechoslovakia
Residence ...... Trubbach, Switzerland
Height ...... 1.68 m (5' 6")
Weight ...... 52 kg (115 lbs)