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Hingis looks to climb back to the top
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-10 10:33
INDIAN WELLS, March 8 (Reuters) - Former world number one Martina Hingis has
her sights firmly set on a return to the top of the tennis mountain.
 Although the Swiss has yet to win a title in her two-month comeback, the
five-times grand slam champion has reached one final and two semi-finals, taking
down three former grand slam winners; Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and
Anastasia Myskina.
The 25-year-old enters the Pacific Life Open ranked number 32 and with the
19th seeding, but that won't be good enough in the long term.
She believes she can reach the top echelons again.
"That's what I think I can do, now it's a matter of having the conditions to
go all the way at tournaments," she told reporters.
"Mentally and physically, it's very demanding and more physical. I have to
get used to it, but I have the patience."
When she retired in 2002 due to foot injuries and burnout, Hingis said she
would never be satisfied hanging around outside the top 20.
Even though she says she's playing without pressure in her second tennis life
now, she still won't be satisfied with being a run-of-the-mill player.
"At this point it doesn't look like I'm going to (have to)," she said.
"Hopefully there is some space up there. Everyone talks about being top 10 or
top five. I'd rather not talk about it and just do it."
LOSE MOTIVATION
Hingis said she returned to the tour because she missed the thrill of the
crowds and the competition.
She has clearly got over the negative feelings she suffered in 2002, when she
was losing to players she once owned.
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