Born: 1980 (Košice, Czechoslovakia, now in Slovakia)
Biography:
Martina Hingis is regarded as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. Born on September 30, 1980, in Košice, Czechoslovakia (now in Slovakia), she was named Martina Hingisová, after her parents Melanie Molitorová and Karol Hingis, who were both tennis players themselves. Hingis showed signs of brilliance from a young age and quickly rose through the ranks to become a dominating force in women’s tennis.
In 1993, at the tender age of 12, Hingis turned professional and became the youngest player to win a Grand Slam junior title, capturing the French Open girls’ singles championship. She followed up this achievement by claiming the Wimbledon and US Open junior titles the following year, firmly establishing herself as a future superstar.
Hingis made her mark on the professional tour in 1997 when, at the age of 16, she became the youngest Grand Slam singles champion in history by capturing the Australian Open title. This victory propelled her to the top of the world rankings, making her the youngest-ever world No. 1. She continued to dominate the tennis world, winning four more Grand Slam singles titles over the next three years, including another Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open crown.
Known for her exceptional tennis IQ, Hingis possessed an incredible ability to anticipate her opponent’s moves, enabling her to construct points and dictate play. Her precise footwork and versatile shot-making skills made her a formidable opponent on any surface. Hingis was equally successful in doubles and mixed doubles events, highlighting her versatility and tactical prowess.
In addition to her success at Grand Slam tournaments, Hingis racked up numerous other achievements throughout her career. She amassed a total of 17 Tier I singles titles, breaking the long-standing record held by Martina Navratilova. Hingis was also a force to be reckoned with in doubles, winning 13 women’s doubles Grand Slam titles, including a career Grand Slam in 1998. She claimed a further seven mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, completing the full set of major titles in mixed doubles.
Hingis reached the pinnacle of the sport, spending a total of 209 weeks as the world No. 1 in singles and 90 weeks as the world No. 1 in doubles, with an impressive 29 weeks holding both No. 1 rankings simultaneously. Her consistency and dominance throughout her career earned her the respect and admiration of both fans and fellow players alike.
Off the court, Hingis faced significant challenges. She battled persistent ankle injuries that ultimately forced her to temporarily withdraw from professional tennis at the age of 22 in 2003. Despite this setback, she made a successful comeback in 2006, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 6 and winning two Tier I tournaments. Her inspiring return earned her the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year. However, a hip injury later hampered her and led to her retirement in November 2007.
Hingis’ career took another turn in 2008 when she was suspended by the International Tennis Federation for two years following a failed drug test. This marked a difficult period in her life, but she once again showed resilience and came out of retirement in 2013 to play doubles events. During this comeback, she captured four women’s doubles Grand Slam titles, six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles (completing her mixed doubles career Grand Slam), and 27 WTA Tour titles. Hingis clinched a silver medal in women’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, further cementing her legacy.
The Swiss tennis phenom retired for the third and final time in 2017, while ranked as the world No. 1 in doubles. Throughout her career, Hingis set numerous records, including the youngest-ever Grand Slam champion and the youngest-ever world No. 1. Her tireless work ethic, exceptional talent, and astute tactical mind established her as a role model for aspiring athletes around the world.
Widely regarded as an all-time tennis great, Hingis was ranked by Tennis magazine in 2005 as the eighth-greatest female player of the preceding 40 years. In 2013, she was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and was later appointed the organization’s first-ever Global Ambassador in 2015.
Awards:
– 5 Grand Slam singles titles
– 13 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles
– 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles
– 17 Tier I singles titles
– Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year
– Olympic silver medal in women’s doubles