WTA: Martina Hingis – A School of Life

Martina Hingis has shown opportunities for the Swiss tennis pros that would have been hard to believe before their first Grand Slam victory in 1997.

Martina Hingis is less than a year older than Roger Federer – and yet the Swiss, who retired after the season finale in Singapore, did something like pioneering work for a long time six years before her legendary compatriot celebrated his first big success. In fact, Hingis has won all five of her individual titles at the 1997-1999 Grand Slam tournaments, partly with ease, suggesting a record-breaking career.

Eventually, this has become the case, but more so in the partner competitions. 21 major wins in the female and mixed doubles, most recently at the US Open, are without equal. However, it was above all the early successes that Roger Federer spoke of the inspiration she had been for his career when Hingis resigned. Federer’s first major victory came six years after the premiere of Hingis – 2003 in Wimbledon.

“I was very happy, that’s a wonderful compliment,”Hingis said in an interview with the Swiss daily Blick,”I was already a pioneer when I won Grand Slams as a Swiss player. It was a little easier for the next generation.”

Federer is not to be counted as a peer, also Stan Wawrinka has his 30th birthday. Birthday already behind it. On the other hand, Belinda Bencic, on the other hand, not so long ago already among the top ten and after an injury break, benefits not only indirectly from the paths of Martina Hingis, she has been taking advice from her great compatriot since her youth days. And their mother, Melanie Molitor.

In other respects, Roger Federer has presented: as a father of a family. Hingis now has enough time to devote himself to private matters. Hingis continues:”Sport has determined a large part of my life,” she sees great potential for the next generation of tennis pros. You have to learn early to deal with pressure. But sport gives you back an unlimited number of things. As well as friendships. Life on tour is a school of life. But you also learn languages. I can speak four languages, and I’ve only recently learned a little bit of Indian and Chinese.”