|
Nervous Hingis prepares for return to the big stage
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-16 11:29
MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Martina Hingis admitted to some pre-tournament
nerves as she prepared to return to the Australian Open, the scene of some of
her greatest triumphs.
The former world number one once dominated
Melbourne Park, appearing in six consecutive Australian Open finals from 1997,
winning three consecutive titles from 1997-99, before injury forced her into
premature retirement in 2002.
The Swiss first played in Melbourne as a brash teenager in 1995 and the
tournament is an appropriate stage as she takes the biggest step of her
comeback.
"It feels different, definitely, to coming here playing in '95 when I was 15,
fearless," Hingis told reporters on Sunday.
"Ten years later, you have some butterflies in your stomach. You have to try
to throw your nerves behind yourself and just focus on strategy," she said.
Hingis, granted a wild card entry for her return to Melbourne Park, faces a
tough draw and will play 30th seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the first round
on Tuesday.
Fifth seed Mary Pierce, whom Hingis beat in the final to win her first
Australian title in 1997, looms in the third round.
"I'm just really trying to get ready for my first round match. I know it's
not going to be easy, but really nothing is impossible, I will just really try
to play good tennis, my best tennis," the 25-year-old said.
LOFTY STANDARDS
Her return to Australia has been faltering so far compared with her once
lofty standards before foot and ankle injuries cut her career short.
Hingis was beaten in the semi-finals of the Australian women's hardcourt
championship by Italian Flavia Pennetta in the first event of her comeback year.
She then crashed out in the first round of the Sydney International, an event
she had won three times, when she was thrashed in straight sets by Justine
Henin-Hardenne.
|
