Martina Hingis intimated she had played her last match on the WTA scene when her doubles partnership with Daniela Hantuchova hardly set the world on fire last year but clearly the 33 year-old has been re-energized by coaching Sabine Lisicki and now the pair have entered the women’s doubles event at Indian Wells’ BNP Paribas Open.
As yet Hingis, who won nine Grand Slam women’s doubles titles alongside her seven at singles, is giving nothing away as to whether this is simply a one-off or more of a comeback. But Lisicki, who has only played one doubles match previously this year and has concentrating on getting her current singles ranking of 15 up higher than her career high of 12, was so excited she rushed onto Twitter to break the news.
Initially Hingis only agreed to coach Lisicki at the Australian Open, and then only as a favor, but clearly the relationship has grown and the pair were together in last month’s Dubai Duty Free Championships.
And Lisicki was full of enthusiasm about the partnership. “It’s fun,” said the 24 year-old German who was previously coached by her father, Dr. Richard Lisicki. “I think we both enjoy it and we’re looking forward to being able to now continue.
“I have known Martina for years. I used to practice with her mother (Melanie Molitor) when I was a little girl. I actually practiced with Martina when she was still a player and I was a little girl and I was looking up to her. So it was very exciting.
So she knows me well and I think it’s a good connection, because she also understands how it is to be in a situation where some other people might not.”
Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, BNP Paribas Open, Daniela Hantuchova, Doubles, Dubai Duty Free Championships, Indian Wells, Martina Hingis, Sabine Lisicki, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta
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