Posted on 05/22/2006 2:06:15 AM PDT by beyond the sea
ROME - Martina Hingis saw a different side of life in her three years away from tennis. Some things, however, don't change: She can still win tennis tournaments.
Hingis beat 16th-seeded Dinara Safina 6-2, 7-5 Sunday in the Italian Open final for the 41st title of her career, but first since winning in Tokyo more than four years ago.
She returned in January after nearly three years out of the game with foot and ankle injuries.
"I lived a different life and experienced a lot of things, and that probably helps me today in those moments," Hingis said.
"If I could turn back time, of course I would have continued to play. But at that point it wasn't possible — the pain and the operations. Right now, I'm very happy that my health is as good as it is."
After winning the first set in 27 minutes and taking a 4-1 lead in the second, Hingis faced three break points that would have sent the second set to a tiebreaker. But she gathered herself and served the match out.
When Safina's backhand return sailed long, the Swiss player placed her hand on her chest and took a deep breath of relief.
"I know how life is after tennis, and that probably gives me a lot of joy at these moments. I want to save them as much as I can," Hingis said.
The 25-year-old Hingis said the victory boosted her confidence entering the French Open, which starts next Sunday. The Italian Open is a key clay-court warmup for Roland Garros.
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"I felt like I never really had the game out of my hands," Hingis said. "I almost feel like I won my first title. This is what you play for, what I came back for."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Nice to see.
Martina Hingis comeback ............. ping.
pics? :)
She looks strong.
Hingis is a class act. I wish her a lot of success.
She's huge........ see post # 7
Good God - she is! From that "pull plow" type of Eastern European female.
Yes she is a class act. I love her game because she's a thinker (and she's quite attractive and makes no noises!).
She throws in a few well-placed lobs at the right time and a few back-spin drop shots just over the top of the net at the correct time to befuddle her opponent. She has a head for the game like 'Rocket' Rod Laver.
Can you imagine if Maria Sharapova had a head for the game like that.......... not that she's at all real foolish on the court. It is just that Martina Hingis is what I call a genius on the court. She is tactically brilliant.
I am glad she is making this comeback and hope she manages to stay healthy. That may not be easy.
LOL
Martina is said to be about 5' 7". That girl (unless she standing on a couple of phone books) looks like she's about 6' 3".
In post 6 she looks like she might actually be hot. In post 7, she looks like an East German "female" olympian from the '70s.........
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Coach: Alexander Zlatoustov & Rausa Islanova
Height: 5’ 11 1/2” (1.82m)
Weight: 155 lbs (70kg)
Turned pro: 2001
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So...... either she grew a lot or someone is FIBBING!
;-)
http://www.dinarasafina.com/
But .......... this thread is about Martina's comeback.
;-)
or Martina is shrinking....
LOL.
Svimvear, Eveninkvear.
FYI..we go to either the first or second day of the US Open most every year...I get the tickets from one of my clients. It's the best day, because there are matches on ALL the courts, and few crowds out there...so you walk around until you find something of interest. It was 12-13 years ago..she was playing the open for the first time..her first match,11am or way out near the last court...maybe 15 people watching..so you can get real close..you could see she had IT , even back then, but what I remember most was her mother, dressed in some hideous outfit, SCREAMING at her after every point..
I never had that impression (SCREAMING) of her Mom, but I'll take your word for it.
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