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
This year I definitely have more matches than her -- that's a plus. Generally it's easier to play somebody like this first round than later in the draw. I have nothing to lose against Justine.
I felt I had the game under control and whenever I needed it I was able to step it up. I wasn't thinking that I was going to lose the set because I felt she always had ups and downs. So did I, but every time I needed it I knew I could pressure her.
I just so badly didn't want to lose first round here. I knew I was well prepared for the situation, for the occasion. Tonight I felt close to being 100% physically, mentally, everything.
I don't think anyone wants to lose the third round of the tournament. That's definitely one of the goals that I try to move up as soon as possible so I don't have to face someone like Lindsay in the (fourth) round. But it's here right now and one of us has to leave the tournament. But you know, I think we both give it the best shots, but that's the game.
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.
In general, when you look at girls in the academies, they are just not taught that way. I think it's just because they're always so one-sided, playing with their coach or playing with their hitting partner. And you know, just boom, boom, boom all the time. I think it's also the problem of the coaches or parents, because they don't teach them different. I don't think it's (because of) the girls, because I think if you show them how to do it, how it's done, I think a lot of them, they would use more skill.
I know she's a little girl so she's not going to overpower me. I don't think she really has a big weapon but neither does she have a weakness.
I knew I had to come up with a great game and I did.
I knew (Pin) was not going to overpower me. Sometimes in the windy conditions you have to be very careful to overdo it and you have to work your point out there.
I knew that I had to be right there from the start. I knew I couldn't give her any momentum.
I'm just waiting for a wild card to play in the Australian Open . To face Anna will be a good test for me.
Everybody wants to grow up sometime. And you have to experience that maybe it's not going to work out the way you expected it to.
It was great proof to myself. I'm relieved, I'm happy. I think I can be proud of myself. You think I'm just going to give up now?
I want to see what she's got. I haven't played her since she was 12.