Thursday, April 23, 2015

Martina Hingis coached Fed Cup doubles due to singles exhaustion

Switzerland's Martina Hingis says that while she was disappointed in losing to both Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska in singles, she was pleased to have helped coach the deciding doubles rubber in last weekend's Fed Cup tie in Poland. 

The Swiss team of Timea Bacsinszky and Viktorija Golubic beat Agniezska Radwanska and Alicja Rosolska to win the tie, 3-2.

Hingis said that she could not play doubles because she was exhausted physically on Sunday. The former No. 1 was up a set and 5-2 against Urszula Radwanska, but lost the second and third sets, 7-5, 6-1. Hingis said that her legs were too tired. "We have to be realistic," Hingis said. "I am 34 years old and it’s not like I am 17 years old—I had 30 minutes before playing again. I was not going to be the team and save it."

Hingis, who is playing full-time doubles on the WTA and who has won her last three tournaments, said that she was helping Swiss captain, Heinz Gunthardt. 

"Pulling from the sidelines, a little coaching experience to help give confidence," she told the Fed Cup website. "I did the best I could do it. I was working the lines up and down almost having a cramp. You live your moments, that's your team spirits. I know the players, and that was the best option."

Hingis added that next year, she would only want to play doubles in Fed Cup.

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