Hingis hankers after return

Former Wimbledon, Australian, US Open champion and world number one Martina Hingis is hankering after a return to tennis.

Former world number one Martina Hingis is hankering after a return to tennis.

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The Swiss former Wimbledon, Australian and US Open champion was forced to quit tennis last year aged just 22 due to a series of lingering ankle injuries.

Hingis is at Wimbledon this fortnight commentating for television, but just being around the tournament she won in 1997 has made her realise she would much rather be playing once more.

"Watching those girls out there makes me realise how much I miss it," she said. "But it would be a medical miracle if I came back.

"I tried to make a comeback and played in the (2002) US Open, but maybe it was too soon.

"In the back of your mind there's always the feeling that you don't want to hurt yourself and feel pain again," she told the BBC.

Hingis, who won three of the four grand slam tournaments in 1997 — missing only the French Open — and five in total, was considered the greatest tactician in the women's game for several years.

World number one for the best part of four years, she out-thought her opponents on court, eschewing raw power for guile and wit.

Still slim, she says she does not miss the gruelling workouts required to keep up with the more powerful players on the women's tour including Jennifer Capriati and the Williams sisters Venus and Serena.

"The game was getting more and more physical, especially when the Williams sisters came in," she said.

"I had to up my regime and go and work out, which was not my favourite part."