Martina Hingis was one of the most successful female tennis players of the 1990s and early 2000s. She was the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion and the world’s number one ranked player for an impressive 209 weeks. Winning five Grand Slam singles titles and nine Grand Slam doubles titles, she was considered one of the greatest female tennis players in history. But what happened to Martina Hingis’ tennis career?
Early Career
Martina Hingis was born in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) in 1980. At the age of three she had already shown her remarkable talent and skill as a tennis player. Her parents, who were both former tennis players, coached her at the beginning of her career. By the time she was 12, she was already competing in professional tournaments.
Grand Slam Success
At the age of 15, Hingis won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1997 Australian Open. She then went on to win the 1997 Wimbledon Championships and the 1997 US Open. She became the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion and the first female player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win three Grand Slam singles titles in a single year.
Reaching Number One
In 1997, Hingis became the youngest ever world number one ranked player. She held the number one ranking for an impressive 209 weeks. During this time, she won three more Grand Slam singles titles (the 1998 Australian Open, the 1999 Australian Open, and the 2000 Wimbledon Championships) and nine Grand Slam doubles titles.
Injuries and Retirement
In 2002, Hingis was forced to retire due to a series of injuries. She had suffered from ankle and foot injuries throughout her career, but the pain and discomfort had become too much for her to bear. She tried to make several comebacks, but was unable to regain her former success.
Return to Tennis
In 2006, Hingis returned to tennis, this time focusing on doubles. She won four Grand Slam doubles titles (the 2006 Australian Open, the 2006 US Open, the 2007 Australian Open, and the 2007 French Open). She also reached the final of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships in doubles.
Decline in Form
In 2013, Hingis began to struggle with her form. She was no longer able to keep up with the younger players and was knocked out in the early rounds of tournaments. She eventually decided to retire from professional tennis in 2017.
Hall of Fame
In 2013, Hingis was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was the youngest ever Hall of Famer at the time and the only one to be inducted before the age of 30.
Post-Retirement
Since retiring from professional tennis, Hingis has been involved in various activities. She is a brand ambassador for various companies, a commentator for the Tennis Channel, and a coach for the Swiss Fed Cup team.
Conclusion
Martina Hingis was one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. She was the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion and the world’s number one ranked player for an impressive 209 weeks. She won five Grand Slam singles titles and nine Grand Slam doubles titles. Unfortunately, her career was cut short due to injuries and she was forced to retire in 2002. Despite this, she still achieved great success in her post-retirement life and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013.