The Swiss great Martina Hingis announced on 26 October, that she will not be seen in any tournament, as she will retire after 2017 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore. The news was confirmed when Hingis announced her retirement on social media.
"People probably think, 'After a year like this, after a season like this...' but I think it's also perfect timing," after the Thursday match Hingis told during a press conference.
"You know, you want to stop on top and not when you're already going backward. I couldn't ask for a better finish like that."
"My partners already knew it and the rumor was out there. I'm actually really surprised that they kept it secret that long, but the players have been really good and supportive," she further added.
In 2017 she was featured in most of the top tennis tournaments. The 25-time Grand Slam Champion has won 2017 Indian Wells, Madrid Open, Italian Open, Mallorca Open, Eastbourne International, Cincinnati Masters, US Open, Wuhan Open and China Open.
"In the past, I always had things in the back of my head, where I might be able to return. First, it was with singles, then it was the doubles. When you see other players who are my age and they are still playing and performing at that level, I was hoping I could do the same," Hingis said.
"I will be grateful also to my coaching period, because that showed me with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with Sabine Lisicki, that I still had the capability. I mean, singles is a different story. But the doubles, I always considered myself as a pretty decent doubles player, even in my first career. I had been winning slams, and I was hoping that I could do it," she concluded.
In the first day of the women's doubles in 2017 WTA Finals the 37-year-old Martina Hingis and her doubles partner Chan Yung-jan won quarter-final match against the Czech ace Květa Peschke and the German Anna-Lena Grönefeld by 6-3, 6-2 on 26 October, Thursday.
Hingis and Yung-jan are now preparing for their next semi-final match against the Hungarian Tímea Babos and Czech ace Andrea Hlaváčková, which is scheduled on 28 October, Saturday at 10:00 am SGT.
Here are some highlights of the tennis star Martina Hingis's career.
Youngest Grand Slam winner
In 1996 Hingis after her WTA debut at Zurich, the 15-year-old tennis star won her first Grand Slam in the doubles event at Wimbledon in 1996 and became the youngest major winner in tennis history.
Youngest ace to win Australian Open
Next, she aimed at 1997 Australian Open singles title and defeated French ace Mary Pierce in the finals. After her win over Pierce, she became the youngest titlist of Australian Open.
Youngest world No. 1
Hingis became world No. 1 in 1997 when she was only 16-year-old. Her achievement put another silver feather on the hat as she became the youngest top rank player in WTA history.
Early retirement
The current WTA doubles world No. 1 Hingis was side-lined in 2002 after suffering from continuous foot injuries. But four years later she returned but again she had to take a break at the age of 27. However, she battled with her problems and returned in 2013 to focus on her doubles career.
Grand Slam
Over the years Hingis won all the major titles for singles, except French open. But while playing doubles tournament she triumphed in Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
