FORMER champion Martina Hingis has
added early spice to the Australian Open, questioning the credentials of
world No. 1 and Melbourne Park top seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Hingis, a triple Open champion, said Wozniacki was a fine athlete, but was too defensive.
And, with familiar bluntness, Hingis sheeted the blame for the Dane's shortcomings to her father and coach Piotr.
"(Wozniacki) may (be) moving better than the others, and she tries to go inside the court, but not often enough," Hingis told L'Equipe."
The fact that she does not win grand slams is not only her problem, but also that of her coach."
Wozniacki,
21, has spent 56 weeks at No. 1, but has so far failed to win a major
despite owning 18 Women's Tennis Association Tour crowns.
She is a
US Open finalist, Australian Open semi-finalist and French Open
quarter-finalist, but doubts persist over whether she is good enough to
win at the highest level.
Hingis, who coincidentally returns to grand slam competition for an
invitational event at Melbourne Park from January 16-29, admires current
world No. 2 Petra Kvitova.
She described the Wimbledon champion
as "very solid, left-handed ... and is the only one I really like to
watch. With others, it is monotonous."
Kvitova has been acclaimed
as the Czech Republic's athlete of the year.It is the 21-year-old's
latest accolade, following her surge in 2011 from No. 34 in the
rankings.
The left-hander was recognised as the International
Tennis Federation's world champion despite finishing behind Wozniacki in
the rankings.
Kvitova was also hailed for being part of the Czech
team of the year for her pivotal role in guiding its Fed Cup team to
the title.
heraldsun.com.au
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