TENNIS:Martina Hingis, at the beginning of her comeback a year ago, was adamant she wanted success even more and even faster - "I'm not doing it for money. It's just because I love the game. No one's pushing me. It's me who's in charge." But the 26-year-old, winner of five grand slam titles before she was 19, is getting no nearer to replicating those youthful glory days.
Yesterday was deja vu. She lost to Kim Clijsters over three sets in the quarter-finals here 12 months ago and the same happened again, although this time Hingis, three times Australian Open champion from 1997-99, took the first set but lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 .
"I came out stronger and I had my chances," said Hingis. "I felt like I was winning the match and I had all the things in my hands. But she's a great fighter."
Hingis left the circuit in 2002 with 40 singles titles to her name. Injury was the underlying cause for the Swiss player's departure, although it was the unremitting rise of the power game that seemingly deposited her prematurely into the history books at 22. It was an awfully young age to quit but superficially at least she appeared content to step off the treadmill and enjoy her considerable riches.
She rode her horses and dabbled in television punditry. However, the more Hingis watched, the more the desire for renewed competition grew, and late in 2005 she announced she was coming back. Since then she has reached three slam quarter-finals in five attempts and won a couple more singles titles. And everybody still loves to watch her, for her game is a nostalgic reminder that tennis used to be about deftness of touch.
Hingis's anticipation is second to none, while her net play, when she can get there, is almost a lost art among her peers. But all today's youngsters hit the ball harder than she does.
"You can't change it," she said. "The game moves on."
Justine Henin-Hardenne, world number one, plans to return to the circuit next month. Three weeks after withdrawing from the Australian Open for "personal family reasons" the Belgian announced yesterday that she was splitting from her husband, Pierre-Yves, and would return at the Open Gaz de France. The 24-year-old married in 2002.
