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Martina back in Tokyo?
 TOKYO:
17/11 Rudford:
Tennis superstar Martina Hingis is extremely confident of returning to the WTA
Tour at the Toray Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo in January
Hingis has been out of action since withdrawing from the Swisscom Challenge in
early October and has since been the victim of harsh criticism from many tennis
fans who claimed she was never as good as the 1997 year made her out to be.
However, the Tokyo Pan Pacfic tournament officials are keeping their fingers
crossed that Martina will show up after the Australian Open, to a tournament she
has won four times in the past six years. "People fail to realise the extent of
the accomplishments of Martina Hingis." Australian Open executive Paul McNamee
said. "No matter what happens now, Martina will go down in history along side
the greats. She achieved everything but the French Open, nobody can take that
away from her. She has been the backbone of women's tennis for so long now, a
real champion."
One of the most dominant women just one year ago, Hingis now faces the tough
task of re-establishing herself as the world's best. Hingis was actually
questioned about how far she thought she could go if she ever returned to the
game just recently. "I can go all the way again, if my body will let me. I take
it step at a time from here on. I think that's the best way - not setting myself
any definites - I want to do the best I can, thats my goal at the moment. I'm
looking forward to returning."
At this stage, nobody can be quite sure when Martina will return to the tour.
However, she has given strong indication that she will be back before Roland
Garros next year. "I don't think Martina is ready to give up on that French Open
just yet" close friend Kournikova joked yesterday. However, Martina remains
adament that she will only go as far as her body lets her. "She won't over-do it
again." Kournikova continued. "She's learnt from coming back to soon, she's
admitted her mistakes but hopefully she'll return in future."
Hingis has told the media and her fans of her disappointment in not returning to
Australia where she has been in the Opening Grand Slam Final for six consecutive
years. "Australia is not used to anyone else being successful other than Martina
and Jennifer. They've shone here for so long. But everything must come to an
end. I'm sure Martina will be back." McNamee said. The withdrawl from Australia
has definitely overhung a dark cloud on her entry into Tokyo. However, the early
part of the tour has always been Hingis' favourite. "She loves Australia, Tokyo
and Indian Wells" Kournikova claimed. "I'm sure she'd love to return in there
somewhere." And so it seems that even though the Pan Pacific Championships are
only a week after the Australian Open, Hingis will make her comeback - that long
awaited moment that will reveal whether she will ever be back to where she was.
Nothing is definite about the career of Hingis, but whatever happens - it's been
a pleasure watching her superior game for the past seven years. It will live
long in our memories as we anticipate her return in Tokyo - only time will tell
us whether she has what it takes to reclaim the throne she once conquered.
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