Swiss great Martina Hingis quits for third and ‘final’ time at WTA Finals in Singapore
The 37-year-old ‘Swiss Miss’ has retired twice before but says the ongoing event in Singapore will be her last tournament
Swiss tennis great Martina Hingis announced her “definite” retirement on Thursday, signalling the end of a career which took her from 1990s teenage superstar to doubles world number one some 20 years later.
“I think now it’s definite. It’s different, because before I walked away thinking I might come back,” Hingis said after her 6-3, 6-2 doubles win alongside Chan Yung-jan over Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke.
“After a season like this, I think it’s also perfect timing. You know, you want to stop on top and not when you’re already going backwards.
“I couldn’t ask for a better finish.”
Fellow Swiss star Roger Federer credited Hingis with helping him become a record 19-time grand slam champion.
“Martina was partially the one who showed me how it was all done,” 36-year-old Federer said in Basel where he is playing at the Swiss Indoors tournament.
“It was great for Switzerland to have someone of her calibre. We were very lucky.