Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Martina Hingis Liverpool Exhibition '11
Murphy said: "It was a great experience, I loved every minute of it and will treasure it forever".
Ok, once again Martina has only won 5 Grand Slams. Although I'm sure she wouldn't mind 9 ;).
liverpooltennis.co.uk
A little exhibition event in Liverpool, the annual Eugenie Bouchard toe-wetting on the grass.
And the 17-year-old from Westmount got to play the great Martina Hingis.
More pics from the event can be found at the following
http://propaganda.photoshelter.com/search?I_DSC=hingis&_ACT=search
liverpool.co.uk
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Martina vs Martina in Liverpool exhibition this summer
Superstars Martina Navratilova and Martina Hingis will be the headline ‘legends’ at the June 16-20 event in Calderstones Park, alongside former Men’s Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek and former World number four Greg Rusedski.
The legendary ladies will clash in an all Czech showdown during the hugely popular event.
Hingis famously came out of retirement in 2008 to play Liverpool and enjoyed the experience so much she came back last year to use the event as a warm up before her competitive seniors return at Wimbledon.
The Liverpool International tournament began in 2002 and has since become the catalyst for four further events that now take place each summer in Manchester, Nottingham, Oslo and Marbella.
Event organiser Anders Borg said: “We’ve expanded from humble beginnings in Liverpool into quickly becoming a pan-European wide event that is already a highlight in each city’s corporate calendar. We are proud of now being branded the biggest tennis exhibition in Europe.
“This has been largely been due to the success of the Liverpool tournament because others have looked on enviously at what the city has created and wanted their own.”
He added: “Liverpool City Council over the years has also given us tremendous support enabling the tournament here to reach out to more than 60,000 children since we began. Without them, we would never have been able to expand and achieve the profile we now enjoy.”
The Liverpool event over the years has attracted such stars as John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, current world number two Novak Djokovic and ladies world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Martina Hingis partners with John McEnroe in Liverpool
THE Liverpool International is playing the numbers game this week.
More than 2,000 litres of Pimms will be drunk during the five-day tennis festival which opened yesterday in blazing sunshine.
At least 10,000 punnets of strawberries and cream will be devoured.
Groundstaff will walk an estimated 850 miles mowing, preparing and looking after the Calderstones Park courts.
And most crucially there are barely a handful of tickets left for the weekend matches.
The appeal is clear.
Superbrat turned commentary box sage John McEnroe is in town from tomorrow to play exhibition doubles alongside the equally charismatic Martina Hingis.
The pair will make a compelling double act.
Hingis is the Swiss Miss with the beaming neon smile. McEnroe, even at 51, is still capable of scowling for America.
And the pair can clearly still play.
“You don't want to have John on the other side of the net,” smiled Hingis yesterday. “Although I'd probably make him run for his money these days!
“He's a demanding partner, but I can play my part. We've played doubles tennis together before and I didn't disappoint; we were a good team.
“We won each time so we have an unbeaten record to defend.”
McEnroe will be returning to Merseyside for the first time since his 1980s hey-day when he featured in the short-lived West Kirby tournament.
Hingis is back in Liverpool – and showed off a little local knowledge alongside French ATP player Paul-Henri Matthieu at yesterday's lunchtime media conference.
“You'll have to go The Beatles museum. I did that last time I was here,” she told Matthieu. “And The Cavern where they played.
“I loved it when I was here two years ago and I kept in touch with Anders Borg, the tournament organiser.
“He's persuaded me to play in a few more tournaments this time round – I was in Nottingham last week, I'm due to play in Manchester after this, so it's kind of a road trip going on. I like the structure of the Liverpool event and it's almost like giving a bit back by supporting tennis and bringing it to people by playing in this public park here. I had a great time last year.”
The relaxed nature of the exhibition events explains why, at only 30 years old, Hingis is still resisting calls to make a competitive comeback.
“Schiavone won the French Open at 29 so I suppose it's a bit odd to be labelled a 'senior’,” she admitted. (Hingis will compete in the Wimbledon Senior Doubles alongside Anna Kournikova).
“But I remember the match I had against her which was in 2001, so it's nine years back. It's not like it was yesterday.
“And yes, I did beat her! But it's her time this time around.
“Obviously the Williams sisters are still going strong too. And they've all had breaks. I didn't have that many breaks in my career. I love to play tennis but now I don't have to train every day for six hours, there's not the same intensity.
“It's less stressful and you're not on the road 35-40 weeks a year. I enjoy being home with family and friends. The girls now are big and powerful and it's a gruelling schedule. It's very pounding on the body.
“We play 80 per cent on hard courts as well which isn't the healthiest surface in the world so on tour it's not as easy as it looks just picking up the prize money.”
On the more forgiving grass of Calderstones Park yesterday Hingis looked in rude health, outgunning Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri 6-1 in the opening set,
Eikeri hit back in the second set but was only ever holding on.
Hingis broke in the seventh game of the second set, held her serve to 15 and then broke the outclassed Norwegian's serve to 15 to secure a victory which was every bit as comfortable as the 6-1, 6-3 scoreline suggested.
Another statistic trotted out yesterday was Hingis' age. Gallantly introduced as “29 years of age” by tournament organiser Anders Borg, she instantly replied: “No, I'm 30 now."
But she still looks capable of making serious inroads into the women's ATP rankings.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Martina Hingis random Liverpool pics
Martina with Paul-Henri-Mathieu
Martina and a fresh face from Norway Ulrikke Eikeri Hingis won it 6-1 6-3
Pictures belong to jimmy62, pv uk from hingis.org
Monday, June 14, 2010
Liverpool organizer believes Martina Hingis should try for full comeback
ORGANISER of the Liverpool International, Anders Borg, watched Francesca Schiavone win the French Open last weekend – and immediately urged Martina Hingis to fill in the only blank in her own Grand Slam record.
Hingis, winner of every Grand Slam crown except Paris, is returning to Merseyside next week for her second year at the Liverpool International. She will also play the Wimbledon Senior Doubles this summer alongside Anna Kournikova.
But Borg believes Hingis still has the game to shake up the WTA rankings once again.
“She’s still only 29 and every time I talk to her I say to her ‘Make a real comeback! Do it again!’
“If she did come back properly I’m convinced she could get into the top 10 and get rid of all the talk about this and that.
“You saw at the French Open a 29-year old Italian suddenly playing the best tennis of her life and Martina can do the same.
“We’ll see what we can do with her when she’s here!”
By ‘this and that’ Borg was delicately referring to the positive test for cocaine which hastened Hingis’ retirement in 2007.
She denied using the drug and after serving a two-year ban has refused to return to the Grand Slam circuit.
But she did hint earlier this year that the idea hadn’t totally been extinguished.
“There’s a spark. If it was played in the backyard,” Hingis said from her home in Switzerland, “then I’d probably think about it twice.”
The five time Major singles titlist in Australia, USA and Wimbledon, but famously not Paris, played World Team Tennis in 2005 – in preparation for her first return to tour.
Hingis originally burst onto the tennis scene by becoming the youngest woman ever to win a Wimbledon title.
And Borg believes he might highlight another precocious talent next week in 15-year-old Luke Bambridge from Nottingham.
The Liverpool International gave an early platform for stars like Novak Djokovic – a relative unknown at the time before becoming world number three, and Caroline Wozniacki – a Liverpool International winner and now world number two.
It seems everyone is on board the comeback train when it comes to Martina Hingis, more so since Francesca Schiavone won the French.
I can't say I disagree I think she could do it, but at this point I'm not too sure of her drive and motivation.
I would say let's wait and see after her matches in World Team Tennis in July.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Martina Hingis returns to Liverpool
MARTINA HINGIS will continue to combat post-retirement blues at this summer’s Liverpool International.
The former world number one, who reckoned the boredom of the professional tennis circuit forced her and several of her peers into early retirement, relishes the laid-back camaraderie of the legends circuit.
And after recreating her famous Wimbledon final with Jana Novotna at Calderstones Park last summer, she’s coming back for more this year.
The tournament has already secured a major coup with the appearance of John McEnroe and the current world number one doubles pairing Bob and Mike Bryan.
But Hingis was a popular addition to last summer’s event and is returning for the June 16-20 tournament.
The Swiss star has distant links with Liverpool.
She became the youngest Wimbledon champion of the modern era at the age of 16, the youngest champion since Merseyside’s Lottie Dod took the title in 1887. Her Centre Court triumph at the age of 16 was the second of five Grand Slam titles she won before she was 19 and Hingis looked set to dominate women’s tennis for years to come. But she quit the game at just 22 and after a brief comeback, gave up competitive tennis completely last year at the age of 27.
Other modern high profile retirements included Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
And Hingis explained: “Tennis takes a lot out of you.
“People think it is a very glamorous lifestyle, which in some ways it is.
“But it can also be tiring travelling from city to city around the world for most of the year. But girls tend to start their careers very young so by the time you have reached your mid-20s, you could have been on the tour for 10 years already.
“You don’t really have a normal teenage life, you spend those years on tour so you have to grow up very quickly.”
Hingis was helped on her way to retirement by a ban from professional competitive tennis for two years following a positive test for cocaine.
She denied taking the drug but saw the incident as an opportune moment to call time on her career.
“Travelling to new cities is always something I enjoy,” added Hingis.
She will be hoping for a trouble-free entrance this summer – after arriving at John Lennon Airport last year, only to discover her baggage had not followed her!
She was forced to pop into the city’s new Debenhams store to stock up on clothes before heading to Calderstones Parkliverpoolecho.co.uk
Boy, is her plate getting full with all these exhibition entries, someone must be getting really bored of living the quiet life ;).
Not that I can blame her being banned from the sport for those 2 years must have driven her nuts. I guess now she's making up for all that lost time.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Martina Hingis nostalgia, Liverpool Exhibition Event
Back in June of this year, I blogged about Martina's Liverpool Exhibition match against Jana Novatna and I included some nice pics to go with it.
Well, now I have something a hundred times better thanks to hingis.org I was able to find video from the event. So here it is in three parts, enjoy ;).
Seriously how much fun is this to watch?, usually when you watch a tennis match it's all very reserved with both players not displaying much emotion until the end of a point (or in most cases not at all).
But with this being an exhibition, both of them were completely relaxed, teasing each other, before during, and after almost every point.
I'm not sure what was more fun, the mutual teasing or the constant interaction with the crowd. The extreme respect (due to a long history with one another) didn't hurt the atmosphere either.
This is a side of Martina that all the fans know and love, goofing around, making jibes, and glib comments, having loads of fun on court, at the same time able to remain very focused and fiercely competitive throughout.
It's a side rarely demonstrated by the current players of the WTA. Demonstrating those human emotions and reactions at all times is what still sets her apart from all the other competitors (and the reason why I just haven't been able to feel as passionate about any of the up and coming tennis athletes).
The nostalgia really set in as I watched Hingis make all those crafty flawless volleys at the net, *sigh* I miss the days when no one had heard of the Williams sisters and the power game was virtually none existent.
Sadly with the departure of Justine Henin volleying and net attacking has basically become a thing of the past, a dying art really.
Every time I watch Hingis play it reminds me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place, and why no matter how much time passes (and how many new faces emerge) I will always miss her on the tour.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Martina Hingis Liverpool Exhibition photos
It was business as usual for the Swiss Miss who beat Jana Novatna 6/3 6/4. That's very impressive actually especially considering she's no longer training or on tour.
Here are some photos from the much discussed Liverpool event, enjoy them since there will be very few pics now that Martina has announced she's definitely not returning to the WTA.
Martina Hingis and Jana Novatna before the start of their Exhibition match
All photos from hingis.orgLooking through all these makes me feel all nostalgic and sad *sigh*.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Martina Hingis says no to 2nd career comeback
The 27-year-old Swiss retired in November last year following a positive test for cocaine at Wimbledon.
She is currently serving a two-year ban from competitive tennis and has always denied taking drugs.
On the issue of a possible return, Hingis told BBC Radio Merseyside: "No, tennis has been my life but there is life after tennis."
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Hingis, who has retired once before, added that she is adapting well to life away from the Tour.
"I don't really miss all the travelling and spending time in hotel rooms. It's nice to be at home with the family.
"There comes a time when I really feel like I have to move, because sport has always been a big part of my life.
"When you don't have that you get a little nervous and think, OK I have to go and do something."
She is playing an exhibition match at the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament against Jana Novotna - a repeat of the 1997 Wimbledon final.
Hingis was victorious that day to become the youngest ever champion at the All England Club.
The five-time Grand Slam winner added that it is a day she will always remember.
"It is a memory that will last forever with me, probably more today than when I was holding up the plate.
"You look at the photos today and I think 'wow I was really so young'."Source
Well, I can't say I'm surprised with her answer. As sad as I am about her not returning to the tour, it's good to finally know the answer once and for all.
Although a part of me was hoping (and will probably always hope) that she changes her mind. What can I say?, I'm hopeless lol.
But, I guess like she said in the article it's time for her to move on. I'm glad she's at least continuing to give back by playing in charity exhibitions.
This way she'll never be completely away from the sport and it still gives her fans a chance to see her once in a while.
I just wish those exhibitions were more widely covered *sigh*.
Anyway, I have no doubt that whatever endeavours she decides to undertake (coaching perhaps?) she will be just as successful as she has been in her tennis career.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Martina Hingis blames boredom for retiring
Jun 9 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post
MARTINA HINGIS reckons the boredom of the professional tennis circuit is forcing female players to take early retirement.
The Swiss champion, who takes part in the legends exhibition at the Tradition-ICAP Liverpool International Tennis Tournament which starts tomorrow, became the youngest Wimbledon champion since Merseyside’s Lottie Dod took the title in 1887.
Her centre court triumph at the age of 16 was the second of five Grand Slam titles she won before she was 19 and Hingis looked set to dominate women’s tennis for years to come.
However, she quit the game at just 22 and after a brief comeback, gave up competitive tennis completely last year at the age of 27.
Other recent high profile retirements include Kim Clijsters, who turned 25 yesterday but has been out of the game for more than a year, and last month fellow Belgian Justine Henin announced her decision to quit, also at the age of 25 and after seven Grand Slam wins.
And Hingis has pinpointed why so many successful players have had enough by their mid-20s.
“Tennis takes a lot out of you,” she said. “People think it is a very glamorous lifestyle, which in some ways it is.
“But it can also be tiring travelling from city to city around the world for most of the year.
“But girls tend to start their careers very young so by the time you have reached your mid-20s, you could have been on the tour for 10 years already.
“Of course, if you are successful you can earn a good living. You also get to do something you love every day and bring enjoyment to other people.
“The negative side is that it can become quite tiring with all the travel and you have to be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices to get to the top.
“You don’t really have a normal teenage life, you spend those years on tour so you have to grow up very quickly.”
I think she's definitely right when saying boredom and especially exhaustion are the main causes of so many young players retiring so early on in their careers (in fact I've been saying the same thing myself for years).
Glad to see Hingis still enjoys the sport despite all the negative stuff it has brought her recently.
And, I'm sure it'll be a joy for many fans to see her play as well, even if it is just in exhibitions (who knows once her drug ban is over perhaps she'll decide to give it another go). I just hope that at least some of those exhibition matches will be televised.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Another day another charity event for Hingis
But what better way to redeem your image then by participating in Tennis charity events.
Aside from the confirmed Liverpool event in June it now looks like Martina Hingis will also participate in The Esurance Tennis Classic at Harbor Point Tennis Club in Strawberry which takes place Oct. 10-13.
It's nice to see that there are some people who still recognize and respect Hingis for her ability, accomplishments and class. Now if only the WTA/ITF would realize the same.