ALBANY — Even in the cold days of February, mere thoughts of this Swiss Miss can warm the hearts of Capital Region tennis fans.
Martina Hingis, a 14-time Grand Slam winner, is coming out of retirement to play for the New York Buzz in World TeamTennis. And not just for a match, but the whole season.
The former No. 1 singles star will be the only designated WTT “marquee” player who will play all 14 matches for a team. She is expected to play both singles and doubles.
Hingis is the highest-profile player ever to play for the team since Martina Navratilova played for the Buzz two seasons in the 2000s. It’s a marked departure from last year’s team, comprised of all junior players.
“We are trying to establish ourselves in a way,” owner Nitty Singh said Thursday. “Right now things are tough. Right now you have to take a chance. … I had to take it.” Singh would not disclose Hingis’ salary for the season that runs roughly the month of July.
In 2007, Hingis, 29, retired for a second time following her being suspended for two years after testing positive for cocaine. (Hingis did not appeal, but denied drug use.) There’s a chance she will use the Buzz’ WTT schedule to gauge a comeback bid, a similar tactic used to success by Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin — and even Hingis herself after first returning to the game in 2005 following her 2002 retirement.
“There’s a spark,” Hingis said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. But she ruled out returning to the tour immediately because of travel. “If it was played in the backyard,” she told AP, “then I’d probably think about it twice.”
In World TeamTennis, much of the marketing appeal comes from “marquee” players coming to town. The signing of Hingis means the Buzz will have one for every match.
“I did not pick her up just because of the name,” said Singh, who made Hingis the second overall selection in a league draft of available players. (Andy Roddick went first.) “I picked her up because she will play like a champion.”
The Buzz — previously known as the New York OTBs and Schenectady Country Electrics before changing to the Buzz nine years ago, is entering its 16th season. After years in Central Park in Schenectady, and one season at the Washington Avenue Armory, the team will play at SEFCU Arena on the UAlbany campus for the second year in a row.
But out of their seven home matches, one — and it’s a huge one — will be played at Glens Falls Civic Center, and will feature Serena Williams coming to town. The tentative date in July 17. In addition to Serena Williams, John McEnroe will be coming to Albany for matches.
The league’s schedule is expected to come out in several weeks.
Source: times union blog
Can't wait, that's gonna be a lot of fun!.
Is it just me, or are people starting to mix Martina up with Roger Federer? . 14 grand slams?.
Um...yeah not so much although I'm sure Martina wishes that were true (as would all her fans).
Sometimes a little research can go a long way, just sayin' ;).
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