Video by Martina Hingis

Video of Martina Hingis, Swiss tennis athlete

Martina Hingis: the Swiss prodigy who became a world tennis legend

Martina Hingis, born September 30, 1980 in Košice (former Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia), is one of the greatest champions in the history of women's tennis. Naturalized Swiss at a young age, she began playing with a racquet under the watchful eye of her mother, Melanie Molitor, a former professional player and future coach who would be instrumental in her career.

A meteoric rise: from early debut to world number one

From her first appearances on the professional circuit in 1994, Hingis impressed with her playing intelligence and tactical vision. She quickly made her mark in history:

• 1996 : first Grand Slam final at the US Open (beaten by Steffi Graf).
• 1997 : historical year:
  • victorious at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
  • youngest world number 1 in history, at only 16 years and 6 months.
  • ends the season world number 1.
• 1998-2000 : still in the world top, with new Grand Slam titles, notably in doubles.

Her style of play, based on anticipation, precision, and variety, contrasted with the raw power of some of her opponents at the time. She was nicknamed "The Swiss Miss," the embodiment of on-court elegance and formidable tactical intelligence.

A first retreat, then a triumphant return

In 2003, suffering from recurring foot and ankle injuries, Hingis announced her retirement at just 22 years old. She attempted a comeback in 2005, first as an exhibition, then officially in 2006. She won three WTA tournaments and reached the world top 10 again.

However, in 2007, she withdrew for a second time after testing positive for cocaine, which she always denied having consumed voluntarily. She was suspended for two years.

The Golden Age of Doubles and Mixed

Hingis returned to the courts again in 2013, this time focusing on doubles and mixed doubles. His record became impressive:

• 13 Grand Slam titles in women's doubles.
• 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
• Olympic silver medalist in doubles at Rio 2016 with Timea Bacsinszky.
• World number 1 in doubles in 2015 and 2017.

Her final retirement came at the end of 2017, at the age of 37, when she was still world number 1 in doubles.

An extraordinary track record

Martina Hingis ends her career with a dazzling list of achievements:

• 5 Grand Slam singles titles :
  • Australian Open (1997, 1998, 1999)
  • Wimbledon (1997)
  • US Open (1997)
• 13 Grand Slam titles in women's doubles.
• 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
• 209 weeks world number 1 in singles.
• Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame since 2013.
• More than 43 WTA singles titles And 64 in doubles.

Hingis, an icon of Swiss and world tennis

Beyond the numbers, Hingis has left her mark on tennis with her unique style: finesse, anticipation, and intelligent positioning. She remains a source of inspiration for many Swiss players, such as Belinda Bencic and Jil Teichmann, who consider her a role model.

Even after her retirement, Hingis continues to make a name for herself, particularly as a consultant at major tournaments and promotional events in Switzerland.

Conclusion: the queen of precocious tennis

Martina Hingis defied all odds and broke numerous records for her precocity. Her legacy is immense, not only in Switzerland, where she paved the way for a golden generation, but also in world tennis, where her unique style remains a benchmark.