Published on January 31, 2005

[TENNIS] Martina Hingis is aiming for a victory in her first comeback match, but has still not said if she will return full-time to the women’s tour.

She opens her campaign against Marlene Weingartner of Germany tomorrow in the US$170,000 (Bt6.8 million) WTA Tournament here in Pattaya and will summon whatever she still has in the armoury to win her first match in more than two years.

“As a competitor and athlete, I always want to win. I played some exhibition doubles match in Saragossa [Spain]. I came here prepared. But I hope my body will hold up and help me get through,” said Hingis in her first official interview since arriving on Thursday.

“It’s so hot here. It was minus 10 in Switzerland. It is a shock to my body. Normally I need 4-5 days to adjust. Hopefully it will get better,” added the former world No 1.

Although her return to competitive play in Pattaya is considered by many as a first step to a return to the tour, Hingis says she has no plans at present to play in other tournaments regardless of her results in Pattaya. Her main concern in coming to Thailand was charity work and being engaged in tsunami relief efforts.

“I saw news every day about the tsunami in Switzerland. It was a natural disaster and unfortunate,” said Hingis, who will go to Phuket next week. She also intends to donate all her prizemoney from this tournament to children’s charities.

“There are two sides to coming and seeing them [underprivileged children]. You feel happy and sad at the same time. I want to help by playing tennis here and hope people will enjoy,” said Hingis, who had some great moments with children at the Father Ray Foundation on Saturday.

After more than two years of not playing competitive tennis due to a chronic ankle injury, Hingis was nostalgic about the old days when she won five Grand Slams and admitted she longed to play again. But she has not been totally deprived of tennis after being a commentator and appearing in exhibitions.

“It is a big difference when you comment on a Grand Slam final for TV and cannot compete or be out there on court. I really miss it and still enjoy tennis,” admitted Hingis.

The youngest Grand Slam champion in history at 16 in Melbourne in 1997 could not say how much the women’s game has changed in her time away. She simply said she would have all the answers on Tuesday.

Last year’s semi-finalist Tamarine Tanasugarn takes centre stage today at 4pm and can be seen live on UBC SuperSport. Chasing her second career title since winning in Hyderabad two years ago, the Thai will face Russia’s Evgenia Linetskaya.

The other highlight of today is the match between 2000 champion Anne Kremer of Luxembourg and former world No 4 Jelena Dokic of Serbia and Montenegro, which is scheduled after the Tamarine-Linetskava match.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

Pattaya

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