Hingis Ready to Taste Success in Dubai Once Again
- Swiss star looking to build on Toray Pan Pacific Open victory -
Dubai, UAE, February 5th, 2007: Tennis legend Martina Hingis will return to the Dubai Tennis Championships this month in a bid to regain the title she first claimed six years ago.
Hingis, who beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2 to claim a record fifth title at the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Sunday, took home the trophy upon her Dubai debut in 2001, but was beaten by Maria Sharapova in the 2006 quarter-finals.
Twelve months ago the former world number one had only just embarked upon a comeback after injury kept her away from the game for three years. Unsure what to expect of herself, Hingis earned victory over many of the biggest names in the game, beating opponents such as Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva and Venus Williams.
“I found the game had definitely become more physical since I was away,” said Hingis of her 2006 experience. “Everyone’s taller, everyone hits the ball harder, and that’s everybody pretty much in the top 100, even outside of that. The competition is a lot deeper. The game always moves on.”
Despite the stiff competition, Hingis won titles in Rome and Kolkata, qualified for the season-ending championships and climbed back to seven in the rankings. Now she is ready for a different kind of challenge.
“I have some points to defend now which is not going to be so easy. This is a different kind of pressure, which I didn't have last year,” she said.
“I want to be the best I can be. To be number one and to be able to move forward, I need to win Grand Slams again, so there’s still a long way to go. I mostly have short-term goals more than long-term at this point. I’m not looking too far ahead.”
The five-time Grand Slam champion joins a stellar field that already includes defending champion Justine Henin and reigning US Open champion Maria Sharapova.
“Martina looked as if she had never been away when she played in the Dubai Tennis Championships last year,” said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament organisers Dubai Duty Free. “It was no surprise to us that she quickly re-established herself at the very highest level, and we are thrilled to welcome back such a great competitor.”
The Dubai Tennis Championships, now in its 15th year, is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Play begins at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on 19th February with defending champion Justine Henin headlining the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, and continues on 26th February when Spain’s Rafael Nadal begins his title defence alongside three-time former champion Roger Federer.
The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
(T) +9714 3210008; (M) +971 50 55 96795; john.rynehart@promoseven.com
