Hingis relives glory years
Print Edition
MARTINA Hingis is a Wimbledon champion once again, 17 years — exactly half her life — after the last time.
Already a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame on the merits of her “first” career in the sport, Hingis teamed with Sania Mirza to win the women’s doubles final at the All England Club by beating Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5 on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old Hingis added to her collection of Wimbledon trophies that includes the singles title from 1997, plus the women’s doubles titles from 1996 and 1998. The latter was her last appearance in a final at Wimbledon.
“It feels like it was in another life,” Hingis said. “Usually, you’re lucky to win it once or happy to be out here and play on the Wimbledon grounds. It’s above my expectations.”
She’ll get a chance to earn yet another trophy, when she and Leander Paes were taking on Timea Babos and Alexander Peya in the mixed doubles final yesterday.
And to think: A few years ago, Hingis was taking part in the “Legends” tournament for former players.
“I wouldn’t have thought (then) that I’ll be back, playing the finals here,” she said.
The No. 1-seeded Hingis and Mirza trailed 2-5 in the final set before taking the last five games against the second-seeded Makarova and Vesnina, who won last year’s US Open.
Play was halted at 5-5 because it was getting too dark; after a break, action resumed with the Centre Court roof closed and artificial lights on. “When we came out at 5-all, we had goosebumps. The energy on the court — we were getting a standing ovation — it was unbelievable,” said Mirza, the first woman from India to be ranked No. 1 in singles or doubles. “We both came out, and I said, ‘This is what we play for. This is what we work for’.”
Hingis, who reached No. 1 in the rankings and won five grand slam singles titles in the 1990s, initially quit tennis in 2002 because of foot and leg injuries, then rejoined the circuit full-time in 2006. She announced her retirement again in 2007, when she was given a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. At the time, she denied taking the drug but did not appeal the ruling.
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