Hingis urges Wozniacki to stand up to big hitters
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Five-time grand slam winner Martina Hingis has some advice for Caroline Wozniacki on how to handle the game's power hitters: Don't let them push you around.
Wozniacki, who relies more on intelligent shot-making and court craft than force, fell to defending champion Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, ensuring she'll drop from the top spot in the rankings next week.
The 21-year-old Dane has a losing record against many of the biggest hitters - she's 0-3 against Clijsters, 0-3 against Serena Williams, 0-4 against Venus Williams and 2-3 against Maria Sharapova.
"I didn't step back. I tried not to let them push me," Hingis said of playing big hitters like the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport. "They were stronger than me. It's hard to play three, four players like that in a row. It's three setter after three setter after three setter.
"Today you just can't let yourself get pushed back," she added. Wozniacki "has to try to move in, step forward, otherwise there is always going to be somebody coming on top of her at a grand slam. She's a great player. I wish I would see her come in a little bit more."
Hingis, who won three successive Australian Open titles, said she had noticed during her own career that the game was moving to more power players. "At that time I still had the strategy and everything was different," the 31-year-old Swiss said. "At that time I still was able to sneak in a few drop shots and angles.
"Now it's the power and the control and the racquet speed, the balls, the court. Everything has made progress."
Wozniacki, who relies more on intelligent shot-making and court craft than force, fell to defending champion Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, ensuring she'll drop from the top spot in the rankings next week.
The 21-year-old Dane has a losing record against many of the biggest hitters - she's 0-3 against Clijsters, 0-3 against Serena Williams, 0-4 against Venus Williams and 2-3 against Maria Sharapova.
"I didn't step back. I tried not to let them push me," Hingis said of playing big hitters like the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport. "They were stronger than me. It's hard to play three, four players like that in a row. It's three setter after three setter after three setter.
"Today you just can't let yourself get pushed back," she added. Wozniacki "has to try to move in, step forward, otherwise there is always going to be somebody coming on top of her at a grand slam. She's a great player. I wish I would see her come in a little bit more."
Hingis, who won three successive Australian Open titles, said she had noticed during her own career that the game was moving to more power players. "At that time I still had the strategy and everything was different," the 31-year-old Swiss said. "At that time I still was able to sneak in a few drop shots and angles.
"Now it's the power and the control and the racquet speed, the balls, the court. Everything has made progress."
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