Hingis admits to lack of fitness as Pennetta spoils her comeback bid

MARTINA HINGIS admitted her semi-final clash with Flavia Pennetta had been one match too many after she tumbled out of the Mondial Women’s Hardcourts tournament.

The 25-year-old was playing in her first event after over three years away from the WTA Tour, but victories over Maria Vento-Kabchi, Klara Koukalova and Nuria Llagostera Vives gave rise to the belief that the Swiss star could mark her return with a title at the end of the week.

However, competing in both the singles and doubles eventually proved too much for Hingis, with Italian Pennetta getting the better of her opponent in the last four to record a 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 success.

Hingis later revealed she had been struggling with a hip strain throughout the encounter and could not deny a lack of fitness had let her down.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Pennetta, she played a great match,” Hingis said.

“And as long as I was able to compete with her it was great tennis, and I think everyone enjoyed it, and so did I.

“But you can’t expect everything to be perfect with your body when you just haven’t done that much in three years.

“I played a great first set; I lost the second set tie-breaker; the third set I didn’t have that much to give any more but still, Pennetta is 22 in the world and on the way up.

“Still, if I would evaluate this tournament right away, I’m very happy.

“I’m very positive with what I’ve achieved this week,” she added.

Hingis is now looking forward to a few days away from the court before continuing her comeback in next week’s Medibank International in Sydney.

“It was just a lot of tennis this week, you know, I’m not used to that.

“And I’m not 18 any more, and I can’t recover that quickly.

“I have to look after myself a little bit now,” she admitted.

Hingis’ conqueror Pennetta, the number four seed, plays Lucie Safarova in today’s final showdown.

The unseeded Czech upset third seed Dinara Safina of Russia 6-4 6-2 in the other semi-final.