Martina Hingis says yes to more exhibitions no to 2nd career comeback

BERLIN — Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis said on Sunday that she would love to keep playing exhibition tournaments, but insisted that reports she was about to launch a second comeback were way off the mark.

"I don't want to train every day anymore, but I would like to play more exhibitions. I have already had offers from the USA," said the 29-year-old after defeating fellow former world number one Lindsay Davenport here.

The 29-year-old Hingis tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007, although she denied using the drug, and later announced her retirement.

But with her two-year ban having expired in September 2009, the five-time Grand Slam winner admitted she missed the game.

"I cannot imagine a life without tennis," she told the Berlin Hurier newspaper earlier in the day. "It's still so much fun for me. I'd like to play more exhibition matches and see what happens. Past that, I just don't know at the moment."

Kim Clijsters returned to the sport last year after a prolonged absence and won the US Open, while her fellow Belgian Justine Henin has cut short her retirement in time for the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.

Hingis said she was not surprised to see the veterans returning.

"I think the women's game is somewhat monotonous at the moment," she said.

"The young girls all play the same way, whereas Justine and Kim are successful because they vary their game."

Davenport also said there is no hope of her returning full-time to tennis.

"If I play again it will only be at selected events and only then for fun," said the 33-year-old American.

Hingis won 43 career titles in her career with five Grand Slam trophies.

She retired for the first time in 2003 because of injury but returned to the tour in 2006, winning three tournaments including the 2006 Australian Open mixed doubles with India's Mahesh Bhupathi.

Source: AFP

I love how a lot of the press took what Hingis said about playing more exhibitions and turned it into Hingis planning another comeback (desprate much? lol) not that I can blame them.

And leave it to Hingis to boldly state what many seem to continually deny, the fact that the women's game has become quite monotonous in recent years (again thank goodness for the return of Henin and Clijsters!).

Oh, and congrats to Martina on her win over Davenport 6/4 6/4 not to shabby for someone who no longer plays on a regular basis.