Sporting icons : Martina Hingis: The Swiss Tennis Prodigy, career HLs & video

 

Martina Hingis, born on September 30, 1980, in Košice, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), is one of the most talented and versatile tennis players in the history of the sport. Known for her extraordinary court sense, tactical intelligence, and finesse, Hingis dominated women’s tennis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming the youngest-ever Grand Slam champion and World No. 1 in the Open Era. Her ability to excel in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles solidified her legacy as one of the greatest all-around players in tennis history.

Style of Play

Hingis was known for her strategic and intelligent play rather than raw power. Her style relied on exceptional court coverage, anticipation, and shot placement. She had an uncanny ability to read her opponents’ moves, often outwitting them with precise groundstrokes, sharp volleys, and expert angles. Her backhand was particularly effective, and her serve, while not the most powerful, was incredibly accurate. Hingis had an all-court game, excelling at net play and constructing points intelligently, a hallmark of her success in both singles and doubles.

Career Highlights in Detail

Singles Career

Martina Hingis was a tennis prodigy who reached incredible heights at a very young age:

Youngest Grand Slam Champion: Hingis became the youngest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era when she won the 1997 Australian Open at the age of 16 years and 3 months.

World No. 1: In March 1997, Hingis became the youngest-ever player to be ranked World No. 1 in singles, holding the position for 209 weeks throughout her career.

However her dominance in singles was short lived due to the high octane power tennis brought in by the Williams sisters & soon she was upstaged by the Williams sisters at the turn of the century .

Her Grand Slam singles titles include:

Australian Open: 3 titles (1997, 1998, 1999)

Wimbledon: 1 title (1997)

US Open: 1 title (1997)

In addition to her five singles Grand Slam titles, Hingis reached 12 Grand Slam singles finals in total, consistently proving her dominance on the biggest stages.

Doubles Career

Hingis had an equally illustrious doubles career, which saw her win 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and become World No. 1 in doubles as well. Her doubles victories include:

Australian Open: 7 titles

French Open: 2 titles

Wimbledon: 3 titles

US Open: 3 titles

In 1998, Hingis completed the Calendar-Year Grand Slam in doubles, winning all four major tournaments with different partners, becoming one of the rare players to achieve this feat.

Mixed Doubles Career

Hingis enjoyed immense success in mixed doubles, winning 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, including two victories at the Australian Open and multiple titles at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Wins with Indian Pairs

In the later part of her career, Hingis formed successful partnerships with Indian tennis stars, achieving notable success in both mixed doubles and women's doubles:

Sania Mirza (Doubles Partner): Hingis formed a dominant partnership with Sania Mirza in 2015. Together, they won three Grand Slam titles:

2015 Wimbledon

2015 US Open

2016 Australian Open

The duo was one of the most formidable teams in women's doubles, enjoying a 41-match winning streak, the longest in women's doubles in 25 years.

Leander Paes (Mixed Doubles Partner): Hingis also teamed up with Indian legend Leander Paes in mixed doubles. The pair won three mixed doubles Grand Slam titles:

2015 Australian Open

2015 Wimbledon

2015 US Open

The Hingis-Paes combination proved to be unbeatable in 2015, cementing both players' places in the record books.

Achievements

Five-Time Grand Slam Singles Champion

13-Time Grand Slam Doubles Champion

7-Time Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Champion

Youngest Grand Slam Singles Winner in the Open Era (16 years and 3 months)

Youngest World No. 1 in Singles and Doubles

209 Weeks at World No. 1 in Singles

64 Career WTA Singles Titles

43 Career WTA Doubles Titles

4 Career Mixed Doubles Titles

In addition to her Grand Slam successes, Hingis won numerous other WTA titles, including prestigious tournaments like the WTA Finals, where she was a two-time singles champion (1998, 2000).

Legacy

1. Revolutionizing Tennis with Tactics and Intelligence: Martina Hingis is widely regarded as one of the most intelligent and tactical players in tennis history. At a time when power was becoming more prevalent in women's tennis, Hingis used her superior court sense and shot-making ability to outmaneuver her opponents.

2. Versatile Champion: Hingis' dominance in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles speaks volumes about her versatility as a player. Few players have had such a balanced and successful career across all disciplines, making her a unique figure in tennis history.

3. Longevity and Comebacks: Hingis retired multiple times due to injuries, with her first retirement coming at just 22 years old in 2003. However, she made successful comebacks, especially in doubles, where she remained competitive well into her 30s, winning her last Grand Slam mixed doubles title at the age of 37.

4. Influence on Indian Tennis: Hingis' partnerships with Sania Mirza and Leander Paes significantly raised the profile of Indian tennis on the global stage. Their success brought attention to the sport in India and inspired the next generation of Indian tennis players.

5. Trailblazer for Women’s Tennis: Hingis' early rise to the top, combined with her graceful yet competitive style, made her a global icon and a trailblazer for women’s tennis. She remains one of the youngest and most successful players to have graced the game.

In conclusion, Martina Hingis' incredible achievements across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, combined with her intelligent and strategic style of play, have secured her place as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Her legacy, especially her impact on the sport's younger generation and her partnerships with Indian tennis stars, continues to influence the game today.

Watch the brilliance of Martina Hingis in the semi final of Australia Open 1997 vs Mary Joe Fernandez