ROGER FEDERER PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARTINA HINGIS AS THE SWISS HALL OF FAMER RETIRES FOR THE SECOND TIME

Written by: Staff on 28th October 2017

BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2017 in Singapore

ROGER FEDERER PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARTINA HINGIS AS THE SWISS HALL OF FAMER RETIRES FOR THE SECOND TIME

epa06294150 Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Chan Yung-Jan of Taiwan (not pictured) in action against Timea Babos of Hungary and Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic during their doubles semi-final match of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2017 held at the Indoor Stadium in Singapore, 28 October 2017. Hingis confirmed on 26 October 2017, she will retire from tennis following the conclusion of the WTA Finals in Singapore. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON |

Before Roger Federer became the most artistic of Grand Slam champions, he had another job.

The young Federer was a pick-up artist.

As a junior, Federer served as a ball boy during compatriot Martina Hingis’ matches and soaked up her brand of all-court creativity.

The 37-year-old Hingis announced she will retire after this weekend’s WTA Finals in Singapore.

Hingis, who swept doubles and mixed doubles championships at the US Open, closes the curtain on her career with 25 Grand Slam championships.

The world No. 1 doubles player said her desire to “stop on top” compelled her to call it quits and go out as a champion.

“I think it’s also perfect timing,” Hingis told the media in Singapore. “You know, you want to stop on top and not when you’re already going backward. I couldn’t ask for a better finish like that.”

Federer, a long-time friend and former Hingis doubles partner, praised the Hall of Famer for setting an example for Swiss tennis.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer, and Switzerland’s Martina Hingis laugh as they play together during a promotional event before the start of the first round of the Brisbane International tennis tournament, in Brisbane, Australia, 04 January 2015. The tournament runs January 4-11. EPA/DAN PELED

“Martina was partially the one who showed me how it was all done,” Federer told the media in Basel. “It was great for Switzerland to have someone of her caliber. We were very lucky. I loved playing with her at the Hopman Cup, she was always super friendly, I love that about her.”

Swiss masters Federer and Hingis shared the court leading Switzerland to the 2001 Hopman Cup championship when the pair defeated the American team of Jan-Michael Gambill and Monica Seles in the final.

In the years since, Hingis has jokingly claimed bragging rights for teaching the 19-time Grand Slam champion how to win.

“You could always see the talent. I tell him I was the one who taught him how to win titles,” Hingis said of Federer. “Before that he played a few finals but didn’t win anything. Hopman Cup was his first big title and he has won a few after that, hasn’t he?”

At the 2001 Hopman Cup, Hingis was the star attraction and Federer a rising young talent when they joined forces to lead Switzerland past Seles and Gambill in the final.

Anticipation, all-court acumen and astounding improvisational skills connected the Swiss stars as players. Federer said Hingis’ mind set her apart from other champions.

“I was always the biggest admirer of her,” Federer says. “How, at a young age, she was able to handle the pressure and play so well. And then obviously the whole combination was just incredible.”

The world No. 2 singles player is pleased to see the world’s No. 1 doubles player go out on top—and remains a fan of his friend.

“I’m not sad to see her retire, she’s been in the game for long enough,” Federer said. “She seems at peace with her decision—that’s wonderful. I’ve always been a fan of her and I always will be.”