Martina Hingis retrospection

You gotta love Martina Hingis. She’s cute, controversial, outrageous, sarcastic, misunderstood and one of the greatest Tennis players of her time. On November 1^st. 2007 at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland she announced her official retirement from professional tennis. A sad day for tennis fans around the world.Martina was tested positive for cocaine derivatives in her urine after undergoing tests during the Wimbledon tournament. She maintains her innocence saying, “I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs. I am 100% innocent and would be terrified to take drugs.

When I was informed about the test I was shocked and appalled. Contesting the findings could take years, and with my age and my health problems, I have decided to retire.” The test results were released to her at Wimbledon with both the A and B urine samples failing the test. Martina later underwent a series of private drug test on her hair and other fluids which came back negative, and in her opinion is evidence that she has never taken cocaine. As an outcome of the positive test she has been banned from tennis for a period of two years.

At the sweet age of sixteen she became the youngest top ranked player ever, she also became the youngest winner of a Grand Slam event and the youngest winner of Wimbledon. She won the Australian Singles title 3 times in 1997,’98, and ‘99, she won both Wimbledon and the US Open in 1997. In doubles she won the Grand Slam in 1998, on a run that included 4 titles in Australia, 2 at Wimbledon and one each in New York and Paris. She held the rank of Number 1 player for 209 weeks!

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A short article on Martina Hingis highlighting the highs and lows of her career and personality an enjoyable read.

And I wholeheartedly agree with the last sentence she will indeed be very sorely missed at this year's Aussie Open.

ETA: A small correction, unlike the article seems to suggest Hingis has never won a title in Paris.

She came close to it the first time back in '97 but sadly has never actually won it in her entire career.

Perhaps it's referring to one of the smaller tournaments which take place in the same city. Though off hand I can't think of what that is.