PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Hall of Famer Martina Hingis returns to action on the WTA circuit with partner Daniela Hantuchova. Pete Ziebron Images
Last month 5 time singles major Champion and 9 time doubles major Champion Martina Hingis was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. A few weeks later she became an active WTA doubles player once again, partnering with Daniela Hantuchova.
This week at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the pair played together for the third time in four weeks, winning their first match but losing their second, just as they have done in the previous tournaments in Carlsbad and Toronto. The attractive Hingis-Hantuchova team has drawn overflow crowds on Court 9 in Cincinnati, where they played both of their matches. Hingis spoke about the enthusiastic fans in Cincinnati:
"It's been amazing how many people have come out and supported us. And the feedback that I get, It's nice to have you back and all that, it's really nice to have that feedback.
I mean, it's really obvious when the stands are packed for a doubles match, right?"
Daniela Hantuchova in singles action this week at the Western & Southern Open. Pete Ziebron Images
Daniela Hantuchova, also an accomplished doubles player who owns a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, encouraged Hingis to come back to the sport and play doubles with her as Hingis explained last week in Toronto:
"She (Hantuchova) approached me and said, Oh, don't you think to play doubles it would be great? You still got it. And she encouraged me ‑‑I needed some time to think about. But then, you know, I was closer to the game again coaching Anastasia (Pavlyuchenkova). It helped me definitely to play, practice with her and see the game, see the matches that, you know, practicing also with her now in the last week, that helped a lot to kind of gain confidence to be able to play against players like we did today."
Hantuchova elaborated on her persistence in getting Hingis back on court:
"I think you guys heard me over the years, even though when Martina already retired, I have been saying it so many times that tennis is missing somebody like Martina and her game and the style she plays. You can see the fans love her everywhere she goes. I just thought it would be a shame to not have her around, and I'm really glad and honored that she's back."
Martina Hingis watching and cheering on Daniela Hantuchova at her singles match in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
Martina Hingis identified the fact that more WTA singles players are opting not to play doubles as much these days. She feels that this trend has created an opportunity for her to have success in doubles on the WTA tour with Hantuchova. However, Hingis is also realistic with the fact that she is older now and is not able to necessarily be as fresh on the court playing matches on consecutive days:
"I could have played singles, doubles, and mixed the same day (when I was 17 or 18), and I came back the next day and I was all smiling and nothing was hurting.
Today I play one match, and I'm like, Oh, my God. I think the body is the most ‑‑ she's like responding to me like, What are you doing to me? But I think it takes time, and it will get better again, get used to it. There's no choice."
Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova have accepted a wild card into the main draw of the 2013 US Open. At least for now physically, her body will be grateful for the rest it receives on the days between matches in New York. "I just take it as it comes, one at a time" Hingis stated.
Comments