Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis
Martina Hingisis a Swiss professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 1 in doubles by the WTA. She spent a total of 209 weeks as the singles world No. 1 and has won five Grand Slam singles titles, twelve Grand Slam women's doubles titles, winning a calendar-year doubles Grand Slam in 1998, and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles; for a combined total of twenty-two major titles. In addition, she has won the season-ending WTA Championships two times...
NationalityCzechoslovakian
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth30 September 1980
CityKosice, Slovakia
I enjoy being back. Just every tournament is a new one, and right now I really am happy to be playing and at that level again.
Playing the top players you have to play them over and over. You have to start believing and step by step I'm getting my confidence back.
I think it was like sometimes in life things happen and you try to change them and if you learn from mistakes, it's always a good thing.
I saw her when she was 12 and she was very good even then. You could hear her from like 10 courts further down.
I think just to be more patient sometimes - that you can't have everything at once, but learn to deal with your feelings a little bit better.
I think I've come a far way. I haven't won a tournament yet or grand slams. They're coming up. I think already that I showed that I've still got some game.
I thought I finally beat a top 20, but definitely it's sweet to beat the number three seed.
Maybe I have this little underdog thing now, not being out there for three years and coming back. You've seen that in the past with some other athletes and it's nice to feel the same way.
I think it's just everything turned out well if you have the right people around you, you realize the support they give you and the trust too.
I think winning the first game showed her that I am here and I am prepared, and that she has to earn her points. It was really important to have won that first game.
(My performance at the recent Australian Open) gave me a lot of confidence. Making the last eight (in Melbourne) exceeded all my expectations. Now that confidence shows, especially in today's game. I've been improving every week.
Looking at the draw, I kind of prefer playing someone like tonight where I know who I'm facing on the other side.
Maria's strengths are her serve and that she is mentally tough. I have nothing to lose but to just go out and play my own game against her. I've wanted to play her since going into retirement.
It feels good to be in the finals once again. I never thought I would make it this far.