"It's like we never parted. Now gimme some sugah."Uhm, well, we were talking with Martina about summer plans, what she was doing, what I was doing and stuff. She told me she was going to be around here in Europe, Grand Slams, doing Grand Slams here in Europe, then she was going to play TeamTennis, which I'm also playing. We just came up with the idea. We thought it was a really good opportunity.
Especially for me personally it's an amazing opportunity to be back at Wimbledon, my favorite grass courts. I haven't been here since 2002. I'm not getting any younger. So this is probably my last chance to play here, just to experience, uhm, being on the court with much less pressure than when you play professional.In fact, Kourny had tons to say to the apparent dismay of Marty. Read the rest of the presser here - it's actually kind of entertaining in a 'I-was-a-former-teen-tennis-idol' kinda way.
Playing with Martina, I mean, I think we just picked it up today where we left off eight years ago. Last time I played was eight years ago. I had so much fun today. Kind of jittery a little bit. You don't know how everything is going to go. But I had an amazing time.
Q. What memories do you have of Wimbledon growing up?
TSVETANA PIRONKOVA: Wimbledon has always been, you know, like a religion to me. And I don't think it's just for me. I think it's for all of the players.
Q. Why do you say that?
TSVETANA PIRONKOVA: Because Wimbledon is the first tournament. It's the oldest tournament. Growing up, every player is looking at Wimbledon. They say, One day I want to play there. That's like a dream.
Q. So when you think of yourself out there in the women's semifinals on Thursday, what is your reaction?
TSVETANA PIRONKOVA: Well, you know, honestly I still cannot believe that I reached the semifinals. This is truly like a dream to me, and I will try to enjoy it as much as I can.
Q. Do you think you have more to offer in the semifinal?
TSVETANA PIRONKOVA: I really hope that I have more to offer. I'll just try to do all the right things: to rest well, to prepare well for the next match. I'll just try to do my best and we'll see what happens.
Q. When you won yesterday, you said you felt you've been trying to play too many perfect shots, not settling for good shots. Was that something that affected you today at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't remember saying that. But, you know, I think a lot of those approach shots I was missing because I felt like I got a short ball literally every point.
I just felt, you know, you have to have the mentality on the short ball to hit the approach and be ready for the volley. And I felt like I didn't slow myself down enough, and I just kept trying to hit too good of a ‑‑ you know, you have to not want to win the point, especially when the ball's bouncing low.
On the grass, the bounce isn't always true, so you have to adjust your shot. I think I just let things start going too fast.
Q. Losses and wins both can be either triumphs of the emotions, mentality, technique, or strategy. Which would you say was most responsible today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: All (laughter.) Like I said, you know, I didn't bring my best tennis today. And sometimes, like I said, you really have to live in the moment. I got too caught up in the mistakes I was making instead of just letting it go and moving on.
I expect a lot from myself, especially at this tournament. When I missed a few shots, I think I just kind of, you know, maybe was a little too hard on myself.
Usually I stay, you know, for the most part, pretty positive. But, you know, yeah.
Q. What do you know about your semifinal opponent? Must be rather a surprise that you're not playing Venus, that you're playing Pironkova.
VERA ZVONAREVA: You know, obviously Venus is going to be always one of the favorite players here at Wimbledon. But if Tsvetana beat her today, she deserves to be in the semifinals. She played great tennis.
I played her in Moscow last year and I lost to her. I will try to remember that match. I know I was not playing my best tennis over there. I will just have to, you know, think about it a little bit and prepare myself the best I can.
I'm gonna try my best over there, just the way I was trying today, and then we will see what's going to happen.
Q. What were her strengths when you played her in Moscow?
VERA ZVONAREVA: I think she's all‑over‑the‑court player. You know, it's hard to predict what she's doing on the court. Sometimes she can slice; sometimes she can hit the ball; sometimes she can play slow; sometimes she can play fast. You never know what to expect, so you lose your rhythm. Then you start thinking maybe too much on the court.
I just know that in that match I will have to concentrate on myself and execute my game no matter what the score, no matter what she's trying to do. Just try not to look on the other side and try to concentrate on myself.
Q. What are the biggest things you think you need to work on between now and the Open?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Obviously what I always want to work on is my serve, and, you know, making sure that I get a higher first‑serve percentage.
But when you play girls who hit the ball hard, and especially women's tennis these days, everybody hits the ball hard and flat and deep.
I think I have the habit of probably not finishing my service motion to a full end because as soon as I land with my first foot, I'm already pushing back to be ready for that next shot.
So you have to make a choice. You want to be ready, you know, maybe a little bit later for the next shot because you want to have a higher percentage of serve. I'm really trying to work on that.
Obviously, you know, in practice it's going well. In matches, it's your habits that come back at the most important moments in the match.
Q. How do you feel about your next opponent, Kvitova?
SERENA WILLIAMS: She's a good player. I mean, I've actually thought she would get through in the early rounds. I'm not surprised that I'm playing her.
She is lefty. She's really, really good.
Q. What made you think she'd get through?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, early in the tournament, I saw her playing a couple rounds and I was like, Wow, she's doing really well. She was just hitting the ball so clean.
Obviously, when she beat Wozniacki I wasn't surprised, because I just saw how well she was doing and how well she was playing.
She's a really tough player, especially on grass.
Q. When you beat Azarenka 6‑0 in the second set, she said, I think Petra, that girl, played the best tennis of her life. Do you feel like you can play that kind of level all the time?
PETRA KVITOVA: So, yeah, I think so. I play now very well, my best tennis in my life, my career. But it's very, very hard to stay on this level. So I have to be focused for each match, for each point.
Yeah, we will see what will be in the future.
Q. The future is against Serena, who has won 12 Grand Slam titles. She has a lot of experience. She's very good on grass. How do you go into that match and play your best and not get so nervous playing on the big court against her?
PETRA KVITOVA: So, yeah, she is very good player, and she won here I don't know how many times. I lost against her in the Australian Open. So it was very quick.
But, yeah, I'm not favorite, so I can play just my game and just play and enjoy. So we will see.
Q. Do you think you can win the tournament here? Do you think you can be Wimbledon champion?
PETRA KVITOVA: No, I don't think. I don't think so, no (laughter.)
Q. Why not?
PETRA KVITOVA: So maybe it's two matches. But, yeah, maybe I can lose in the Serena. I don't know what I can tell. I don't think so, yeah.
Q. Martina, obviously with your skill level and with Anna, you could go into the main draw and be competitive.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, not me. She could be. Me, there's no way. I mean, I'm not ready for that at all.
Q. Why not just do it?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, I don't think we would be.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You could for sure.
MARTINA HINGIS: I haven't played that much in the last three years. For me it's less time being away. It's only three years. But still, I mean, you have to commit. The commitment is totally different.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Different mental commitment also.
MARTINA HINGIS: Being on the tour full‑time, you can't pop up and say, I'm going to come back and win Grand Slams, even if you have a great partner.
It's great fun to be out there again with Anna. We had some great times. We're sharing some good time again. Totally different ballgame.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: For me it would be impossible really physically to be on the tour. It even bothers me a little bit playing like today. I mean, it wasn't strenuous match. It was quite fun and giggly. I'm sure I'm going to feel it tomorrow and I'll be sore. Even to prepare for the specific tournament, the last two months, I've had to have therapy, like real therapy, every day for an hour, hour and a half.
This is just for kind of the fun matches. I would have to live in the trainer's room for three hours every day. I have five different things wrong with my back from two herniated discs.
MARTINA HINGIS: It's a good day off tomorrow.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: From two herniated discs to four cracks that I have. The right side is smaller than the left side.
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't want to hear it.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: All kinds of weird stuff.
Q. What was the trainer coming on today for?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: (Holding her hand up.)
Q. What is it?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's a blister that's like bleeding.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Really, that's it? Suddenly when I'm older, I'm enjoying the press conferences (laughter). I thought we were just getting started.
[Photo(s): Getty Images]
Time's up for Martina Hingis.
The 2-year drug suspension on the Swiss Miss ends today which is, coincidentally, her 29th birthday. SI's Jon Wertheim caught up with her to discuss her feelings on the suspension, its handling, and whether she has ever taken cocaine. Good stuff:
SI.com: From an emotional standpoint, how do feel you've handled the past two years?
Martina Hingis: OK. There were hard times and it was frustrating knowing I did nothing wrong but couldn't really fight this. It was my reputation and I knew the truth. But the process didn't really let me fight.
SI.com: Given your outspoken personality, I think it surprised a lot of people that maybe you weren't as forceful, deciding, for instance, not to appeal. Do you regret that?
Hingis: Like you say, I always spoke [honestly] even if I wasn't always politically correct. I spoke the truth even when the truth may have hurt me. But the system was set up in such a way that there was nothing I could do.
SI.com: Bottom line: have you ever ...
Hingis: No. Taken cocaine? Never. No [recreational] drugs. I don't know even the effects. I've maybe been in a position where I could have. But never, no. If I had ever taken cocaine, I would have said so.
SI.com: Before this happened, did you ever worry about a situation like this?
Hingis: No, because I probably had between 80-100 tests and no problems. The only thing I would ever take was aspirin and I was very particular about these things. Even if I had a flu I'd call my doctor and say, "What can I take?" I was always very cautious. I never took anything that was not approved first.
SI.com: Were any players notably supportive?
Hingis: Billie Jean King wrote a letter on my behalf. But, you know, I wasn't allowed at the Grand Slams, even to enter the stadium during tournaments. So I had little contact with the other players.
SI.com: Richard Gasquet?
Hingis: No.
SI.com: Lots of comebacks going on. You're 10 years younger than Kimiko Date ...
Hingis: I'll leave it Justine [Henin]! It's not so easy. You need to commit. You can't just do it when you want to. I know the women's game isn't at the highest point it's ever been. OK, look at Kim [Clijsters]. But she has the family support, the husband, she's physically strong. She played three tournaments and she's right back and I don't think anyone can hurt her on the court.
SI.com: What is your relationship with tennis?
Hingis: I love tennis, still a big part of my life. I didn't play much in the beginning of the suspension, but then I played more. Now when I play, a lot of the time it's with juniors. I've been able to [distinguish] between the sport and the administrators.
Hard habit to break: It seems she just can't stay away. Former top-ranked tennis baller Martina Hingis, who famously re-retired after testing positive for cocaine and receiving a 2-year ban, is returning to the courts. The Swiss Miss has accepted an invitation to play at the Liverpool International in June, though she could only enter the non-competitive Legends section of the draw. Martina told the press,
I have heard a lot about Liverpool over the years and all the fine work they have done up there to develop tennis in a region that is mostly famous for football. l am very much looking forward to playing the event and to seeing what’s on offer in the European Capital of Culture.The 27-year old will be joined in the Legends group by fellow retirees Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash.
"There are very few (cases), [...] In tennis it doesn't matter what you might take, it doesn't keep the ball in, it doesn't calm your nerves. It doesn't do any of that, [...] I can see in track and field and other sports, but tennis is definitely a lot of mental and skill. There is no magic pill for that."
"As a signatory to the WADA Code and a founding member of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is committed to ensuring the integrity and competitive fairness of women’s professional tennis, and ensuring the heath and well-being of our athletes."
"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to doping in sport, and fully supports the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, which is globally recognized as a world-class program in protecting the integrity of professional tennis. We support and will enforce the ruling of this independent tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program."
"All of this said, we are saddened by this news as Martina has meant so much to fans the world over and made many positive contributions to the sport."
Martina Hingis may have been named after the legendary Martina Navratilova, but her game resembled that of a different legend - Chris Evert. Chris, who famously called out Serena Williams in an open letter in TENNIS magazine, is the first high-profile player of the past or present to comment on the Swiss Miss' recent doping charges and subsequent retirement.
Chris, who is conducting a pro-am this weekend at the Boca Resort and Club in Florida with some other tennis stars including Mark Philippoussis and Jana Novotna, had these very interesting comments about Martina and the charges:
"I'm not shocked, but I was very surprised. [...] I think Martina in the past has always shown herself to be the consummate professional [...] But since she came back [from a three-year injury hiatus], I don't know her. I don't know her lifestyle, who she hangs out with. [...] You can't believe it, but you can't not believe it. [...] You know what, I don't like to make judgments about her [...] But, how many athletes have gone on and denied and denied and denied steroids and stuff. The truth always comes out."
Not shocked? Reading between Chris' very carefully chosen words, it sounds like there were signs people in the inner-circle of tennis were witnessing. Clearly Martina changed after coming out of retirement. Maybe that's why other players have been quiet about the accusations - no one is really that surprised.
Here is some of what Martina Hingis had to say about today's claims:
"I have tested positive, but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100% innocent," [...] "The reason I have come out with this is because I do not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities." [...] "When I was informed I had failed my 'A' test following my defeat at Wimbledon I was shocked and appalled. I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous that I've decided to confront it head on." [...] "I have no desire to spend the next seven years fighting doping officials. I'm frustrated and angry, and accusations such as these don't provide me with the motivation to continue." [...] Because of my age and my health problems, I have also decided to retire from professional tennis."
WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott had this to say about today's news:
"We have not received any official information regarding the positive doping test result referred to by Martina Hingis, and as a result we are not in a position to comment on the matter." [...] "However, it is important to remember that in the area of anti-doping, all players are presumed innocent until proven otherwise."
To read Larry Scott's full statement, click here.
What we're wondering is why she decided to announce her official retirement today while announcing these doping claims? We don't think this makes much sense for the 5-time Grand Slam champion and looks very suspicious from a PR standpoint.
Yes, it's been that kind of year for Martina Hingis. The sophomore year of her return from retirement has not been kind to the 5-time Grand Slam champ. A lingering hip injury sustained in March at the Sony Ericsson Open has hindered the once fleet-footed tennis prodigy. Her results this year speak to her woes: 1 title at Tokyo and 1 Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Now comes news today that the Swiss Miss is shutting down her game for the remainder of the year to heal her body. "I've done everything I can to be able to compete, but since Key Biscane I've had problems with my hip which are stopping me from playing any more tournaments this year and even from practising properly," said a dejected Marty.
Who knew that when we saw her waving good-bye at the China Open it would be for the last time this year?
A champion like Marty deserves better...
Former World No. 1 Martina Hingis is changing things up. The "Swiss Miss" was a loyal member of the Yonex tennis racket crew for years. However, Marty has been spotted working a blacked out racket at the US Open which means she's switch-hitting these days and trying out another brand.
“I’m not talking about this subject right now,” said Marty. “Yup, it’s a black frame. Testing racquet.”
Anyone have any information on who the lucky racket brand might be?
An interesting editorial in the current Tennis magazine by Douglas Robson is a study on the temperament of current players on the tours. Robson carried a few wooden rackets and visited the practice courts of Indian Wells and the Sony Ericsson Open with hope of getting a few of the players to take a crack at hitting with wood.
Who were the most personable and approachable players? Take a look:
Swiss Martina Hingis, an old school player in her own right, had this to say about hitting with wood:
“You'd have to get used to it and find out the strength and weakness of the racket because the strategy would definitely have to be a little different,” [...] “You get the flat ball, so you'd have to be more aggressive [and] try to hit winners sooner."
Spin merchant Russian Sveta Kuznetsova, when asked if she could possibly beat a current player with the wood, said:
“Yeah,” [...] “Depends against who, but I think I would.”
Cutie Novak Djokovic and his 2 hitting partners played a series of tiebreaks with the wood. Always the "Djoker" the Serb had this to say:
“It's the first time in my life,” [...] “When we started to play, I tried to play as players did 20 years ago – the flat hits, chip and charge… volleys, slice. Then I tried to hit as we do today with spin and it was pretty good. I won I think three dinners."
And, clearly not the modest type, Daniela Hantuchova said:
"It was coming off the racket pretty well...I always thought I'd be quite good playing maybe 100 years ago."
Not a surprising bunch, at least to us. But more interesting was who gave wood the thumbs down:
It makes us wonder why they refused to experiment. They are obviously too young to have actually played with wooden rackets so why the disinterest? Too intensely focused or too self-conscious??
We think it would be great to see modern players compete with old technology in an exhibition match. Some players need to appreciate the history...and lighten up.
