Hingis gives herself an outside chance

Martina Hingis rates herself as a “good outsider” to win Wimbledon as she continues her comeback.

Hingis retired from tennis at the end of 2002, aged just 22, and has not played at the All England Club since her first-round loss to Virginia Ruano Pascual in 2001.

The Swiss star has already climbed to 15th in the world rankings, reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian and French Open this year, and winning her first title for four years in Rome last month.

“I look at it as a second career and in some ways I feel like a rookie again because it’s been so long since I played here,” said Hingis, who sued her shoe manufacturer for the serious foot injury she suffered before retiring.

“It all feels very new again. I want to be able to perform with the best. A lot of people would think I couldn’t handle it any more, it’s really nice to show it’s possible.

“I haven’t won a grand slam yet or reached a final, but I was able to win a tournament so we’ll see, step by step.

“I’ve made quarter-finals in the last two slams so in a way you feel that’s the least you want to do but I just don’t want any bad surprises, just to stay healthy and my perform at my best and take it one (match) by one.

“I definitely have hopes, I’m definitely a good outsider.”

Hingis won a total of five grand slams, including becoming the youngest Wimbledon champion in the open era at just 16 years, nine months and five days in 1997.

She also won the Australian Open and US Open that year, and reached the final of the French Open, and admits: “When you are 16 you think that it was normal for me to win three out of the four grand slams and make the final at the French Open.

“I had a great winning streak and in a way you feel invincible, but then others started to get better and perform at the same level and it was always very equal against the Williams sisters, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati.”

After retiring Hingis turned her hand to television commentary, and seeing the same players she played against still competing helped inspire her to return to the tour.

“When I was here two years ago doing commentary my biggest fear when watching the matches was if I can last that long with my body; maybe one set but who knew if I could last longer than that,” Hingis added.

“But I don’t want to have any regrets either and that’s why I want to try again.”