Friday, March 17, 2006

M. SHARAPOVA / M. Hingis : 6-3, 6-3

An interview with: MARTINA HINGIS
THE MODERATOR: First question for Martina.

Q. Did you expect that she was going to play such great defense?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, first of all, she has good offense game. She pressure me in the beginning. She play really well.
Maybe compared to the other two matches, she definitely started off a lot better than the previous ones, yeah.

Q. It looked like you were a little frustrated in the second set with your play. You certainly had opportunities after fighting back.
MARTINA HINGIS: For sure. I mean, 4-1, I started playing better. All these chances you have, I think I did have, she always ended up winning those games which I thought could have gone either way.
That's the difference. I mean, that made the difference today. Then, of course, at the end, I don't believe in luck, so the better one always has more luck. You know, I have to say definitely that was the best match she's played so far in the three events we've played.

Q. How was your quality compared to the other two?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, she didn't really give me many chances. You know, I tried to play defense, more offense. But, I mean, I just didn't get many opportunities to really do too much with balls.
Also compared to maybe other matches I've played so far, she doesn't make easy errors, which she probably still did in Tokyo where I might have surprised her, I don't know, with my play. Against her, you don't get away with much any more compared to the other matches. Even today, I mean, still Dubai in the beginning, I had chances. But probably from my side not the best match.
But today I think I didn't do that badly. Yeah, she was just better.

Q. You started moving in closer to the baseline. You thought you were on your way.
MARTINA HINGIS: I thought so, too. That's the thing (laughter). It didn't last too long. I think that's still the deficit I have not having played for three years, not having the stamina. In a semifinals match, you have to go out there and give it all, not just like for a certain amount of time. You have to go out there and show the opponent from the beginning that you're willing to pressure and to dig in deep.
I didn't start off like that. Maybe if I had, it would be a different story. Like I said, you don't get away with a lot of things against a player like her.

Q. Did she intimidate you with the power of her shots?
MARTINA HINGIS: No. I mean, I don't like always the power thing. That's not intimidating any more. All the players always do the same thing, so you're kind of used to that. I've played Lindsay, other players, I've played her a couple times. You know, it's more of the placement now that she really was dictating right/left, right/left pretty much, which she used to play just cross-courts in previous matches. She just really played smart today.

Q. You were saying this is the best she's played against you out of the three matches. Did it feel like she was hitting the ball harder today compared to the other two? Watching it, it seemed that way.
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know. I mean, you can't compare the surfaces as well because the one in Dubai is a slower hard court than here. Tokyo is just dang fast. It's a total different ballgame. You can't always compare the situations because the surface is different.

Q. What is the feeling now after this semifinal loss? Happy to get to the semis, but not to the winner's circle?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I thought like I had a good preparation until getting to the semifinals. I felt like maybe the previous times I was a little tired, a little exhausted already, but not this time around.
Of course, it's 11:00 matches, it's not my time to wake up. Even this time around, I felt like, yeah, everything was fine, in the morning, waking up, all that...
Yeah, I mean, she was -- I mean, all I have to say is just too good today, and I'm happy there is more tournaments coming up. I have to work on certain things and try to get better till Miami.

Q. Another positive step?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, for sure. I mean, being in the semifinals, if someone told me, "You're going to make the semifinals, beating Lindsay, Safina, making it to the semis," probably I would have signed the contract in the beginning of the week.
But now that you've come that far, you're like, of course. I wouldn't be a competitor if I be satisfied with getting there. You always just want to get more out of it.

Q. What's the schedule after Miami?
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know.

Q. Nothing in the US? Back to Europe?
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know yet. We'll see how I do there.

Q. At the end of the year when you announced your comeback, you said a couple things, and please correct me if I don't have your quotes right. You said you were looking forward to playing Sharapova most, then you kind of got your wish and played her three times. Will you still be looking forward to playing her the next match?
MARTINA HINGIS: Yes. Even more now (smiling). No, I think she's very challenging. She's a great competitor, fighter out there. I think playing her, it always gets the best out of me. Out of her today definitely also.
You know, watching her first-round match, second, I'm like, "Okay, I wish she'd play like that against me." Obviously, champions can always step it up a notch when they need to.
I just know what I have to do better. Hopefully I get another chance playing her, yeah.

Q. What exactly do you have to do better? You moved her around pretty well. Her movement has improved a lot. When she's off balance, she isn't missing as much as she used to. Do you have to be more offensive or a conditioning thing where you need to be able to last longer in points?
MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, like you were talking before, you know, the 3-4 game, I thought I had her. Adding a lot of topspin on it. I'm not going to hit winners out of that, but just make her tired. Then wait for my opportunities. That's definitely the game plan. I already talked to my mom.
I know that's really tough to do because in my position, I mean, I know I can't overpower her, but that's one strategy which would work. Now I have to go for that and just last longer in that kind of game.
Sometimes it's mentally a little bit hard because you know you go out there and you have to fight and dig every point. But that's my only chance. Not only for three, four games wear her out, but then she can't serve as good, she's not going to run as well. But then it's just really out last her. That's what Justine is doing. That's why Mauresmo is winning now. That's the way it should be or it can be.

Q. You seemed to have really great crowd support today. Did you feel that way?
MARTINA HINGIS: I did feel it, especially when I was coming back being down 4-1 in the second. 4-3, I came back. Toward the end, you know, definitely you feel the atmosphere, the support. It's really nice to have that.

Q. Most would certainly say your return has been astounding in the first quarter of the year. You worked in the media. Could you step back and summarize this return in one phrase or one word or two.
MARTINA HINGIS: I won't have any regrets any more. No matter what happens now, I know I've come a far way. That was probably one of my biggest fears, to come back and disappoint. Hopefully that's one thing I didn't want to blame myself, of course, because of what I've accomplished in my life beforehand, in my kind of first career, however you want to call it. Just really go out there and play good tennis.
Now I think I've come a far way. I haven't won a tournament yet or Grand Slams or whatever. They're coming up. But I think already that I show that I still got some game.

Q. What were you doing a year ago during this Indian Wells, Key Biscayne stretch?
MARTINA HINGIS: I was in Miami to watch. Actually, I was in the US during this time, watching it on TV. In Miami, I spent a couple days. Five days I was there watching.

Q. You said earlier you were enjoying this more the second time around. Do you think part of the reason is because you're having to work that much harder, now you're enjoying the rewards you can get?
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't think things were coming easily before. It's not like you win a Grand Slam out of nowhere.
No, I think right now what I have to focus on is really the top 10 players. There's always somebody else who's playing well. Probably the top four or five are very much the same ones at each tournament I've played now.
You know, if I want to win an event like here or Miami or a Grand Slam, that's what you have to aim for. That's pretty much it.

Q. You're saying you're feeling positive, things are going well. Your voice sounds like you're a little frustrated.
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I am.

Q. Frustrated that you weren't able to take that step because you think inside the game is there and you should be pushing through these matches now?
MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, because it's over and over the same thing. I don't know. I mean, I've had a good win against Davenport. I didn't think I played the greatest match against Safina, but it was good enough.
Today there's not much more I could have done except like really having, you know, better stamina. But that's not one thing that you can gain overnight. I have to just go back home and train that, from the beginning, from the base on.

Q. The other quote from earlier in the year, I'm sure you meant it in the nicest possible way, you said you don't know what the big thing about Maria is. Today you gave her credit, which was nice. Is it different watching her on TV and being on the court with her? Were you misled about her? Did you not give her enough credit at the beginning of the year when you said that, or did you say that?
MARTINA HINGIS: What did I say?

Q. That you don't know what the big thing about Maria is.
MARTINA HINGIS: If I haven't played her, I mean, yeah, that's what I wanted to feel myself on court. Sometimes you can't see it.
I mean, she serves good on big points. She plays -- she doesn't overdo it. Like shots 30-All, being up a breakpoint when I had the chances, she's not going to miss during those times. That's the difference between a top five -- a top player and the rest of it. That's what she's smart about.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

March 15, 2006

An interview with: MARTINA HINGIS

M. HINGIS / D. Safina : 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Martina, please
With your success so far, I don't know if you can still call it a comeback. How proud have you been of your 2006 season?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, so far so good. Definitely I'm very happy with the progress I'm making. Today probably wasn't all the prettiest game, but it was effective at the end of the day. I'm happy to be through, in the semis again.

Q. Today got you win number 20. You're the first to get there.

MARTINA HINGIS: I'm not counting like that. Now that you tell me, it definitely feels good. I think to me more important is to be in the semifinals of this event. It's a big one. After the Grand Slams, pretty much for all the players, one of the more important ones.
Yeah, you know, just waiting for a next opponent to come.

Q. Do you still see this as a comeback or is that over with now?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think that's pretty much over with now. It's just more because this is my first American tournament that people look at it still as a comeback.

But I'd say the Australia trip, that was more of a comeback. Since then that I've played Tokyo, the two Middle East events, and now here, I wouldn't call this -- yeah, come back to USA. That's probably the only thing, yeah.

Q. When you started on your return to tennis, did you give yourself, "I'll be satisfied if I get this far in tournaments in the first month, but by the third month, I want to be in the semis?"

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I just always set myself short-term goals because I wanted to keep it real, not to just say I'm going to be No. 1 or top 5 by this and this time because I don't think it's realistic. You just first have to play those opponents in the top 5, top 10 to make sure that you have still the game and still could make it.

Yeah, I think like I always said, the rankings will come automatically if I show results.

Q. Did you say, "By the end of March I want my first title"?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, I said I want to be seeded here. That came true. It was just really important coming from Doha to have a couple days. I had a Friday start, not already Wednesday, which would be pretty cruel. Yeah, that was the goal.

I was 32 by then. So, yeah, I made it. That I was seeded 19, you can't always participate on luck that some people show up or don't. Like that I knew, by making the quarters or semis, I was going to be seeded.

Q. How is your body holding up after back-to-back days of playing?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think all of us have to go through certain things. Definitely an ache here or there. I have a long time to recover now until Friday. That definitely helps hopefully.

Yeah, I'll have plenty of recovery time, a sauna, a Spa. That's nice about the hotel. It's a very good place to be in.

Q. Has anything surprised you about coming back to the tour?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, no, because I've lived the tour for so long, eight years, 10 years. I mean, nothing really can surprise me any more. Maybe more in life than on the tennis court. Not really in this environment because, I mean, I don't know anything else. In life, when I was away, there were some surprises. Not in the tennis world.

Q. What were those surprises?

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know. Daily things. Well, not really surprises, but just find yourself in a different situation where you don't know always how to handle things. But also was probably the most positive thing, everything I was doing in tennis was also very effective in life, to have the discipline, to have the regime, to have routines, that you can always hold on to something, what you were doing, and also do it in life.

Q. Did you hear or read about the comments that Roger Federer made about you yesterday?

MARTINA HINGIS: No. Tell me.

Q. He said he was thrilled obviously that you'd made this return, but he didn't think you'd make the top 30 till the end of the year. He's very happily surprised at the way you've played and that you should really now be challenging for Grand Slams as you did in Australia.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think so, too, now. I just saw him after the match. He congratulated me. That's nice. On the men's side, he's the one to beat right now. He has some challenges to come up against. You know, I have mine. We've always been good friends, yeah.

Q. Did you have any problems getting up for this match today after that big one you had against Lindsay yesterday? Did you have any problems psyching yourself up to play well?

MARTINA HINGIS: Maybe my body was a little, yeah, achy or rusty or however you want to call it. I don't think necessarily an 11:00 start is very positive, as well. At one stage, no one was there. On the other hand, I think coming back-to-back days, one match at 11, the other at 7, I don't think it's right.

I think a lot of things have to do with TV, but I still don't think it's right. At least 12:00 or 1:00 start would be definitely more appropriate for a quarterfinal match. Well, I'll have a word, and maybe in the future we can change that.

If we can't -- I mean, that's one thing that the players have to say and stand up for. I just don't think -- well, what do you think? I just don't think it's right after coming back-to-back, having to play the next day at 11. For whatever reason that is, I don't know, but I'll ask.

Q. At the French you said you weren't a morning person. You're still not a morning person?

MARTINA HINGIS: No. Probably won't ever be. But I try my hardest. I came through today's match, so I'm happy. You always try to get yourself ready and prepared in a different way.

Like you said, after coming back on court today after beating Lindsay, it's just not easy - mentally and physically. Thank God, if I had to probably face Justine Henin or someone else, it would be a different story. But Safina still needs to learn a few things. She had a rough one against Myskina. We were probably much in a very similar position.

But I was more confident today after that win yesterday that I had still more to give.

Q. In this match today she suffered a pretty hard fall. Do you remember what the score was?

MARTINA HINGIS: It was like 1-All.

Q. Was it like 30-40?

MARTINA HINGIS: I know we had to go deuce side. I don't know after that point, 15-All, 30-All. I don't know what it was. She didn't seem like she was running afterwards.

Q. We were talking about Roger earlier. Do you remember the circumstances of when you first met him?

MARTINA HINGIS: Like when he was like really little?

Q. The first time you became aware of who he was.

MARTINA HINGIS: Just watching him. I think he made first finals in Milan. I watched it on TV. Then he made another couple finals indoors. I don't know whether Marseille, somewhere else. I really don't know. Then Hopman Cup for sure when we teamed up together, won that thing finally.

Q. Are you close enough to where you would have talked to him before deciding to come back for advice or words of wisdom?

MARTINA HINGIS: No. He just sent me a message that he thinks it's great that I'm coming back, very encouraging. But not, "Hey, you think like I should be coming back or not?" No, I think that's more up to the supportive crew you have within the family, really the people who can help you. It's not like he's going to be my hitting partner next week.

Q. Why not?

MARTINA HINGIS: I wish (smiling).

Q. Regardless of whether or not you win any more matches in this tournament, how happy have you been with your performance in terms of getting back?

MARTINA HINGIS: So far I think I've shown some pretty good tennis, especially the one match against Lindsay yesterday, the early rounds. Today was probably, you know, more of a confidence and really speeded it up when I really needed to, the really important points, crucial points towards the end of the sets.

Well, now I've got a day of rest. See what I can do in the semifinals.

Q. Have you exceeded your expectations for this tournament?

MARTINA HINGIS: Not at this tournament. I mean, I knew I had a rough draw, especially playing Lindsay in the fourth round. Since coming through that one, I'm pretty positive I can play some more matches.

Q. How do you think you've grown since being off the tour and in what way?

MARTINA HINGIS: Maybe my mind. Sometimes, like I've been saying, when you're 17, 18, you are just very one-sided. That's all you think. You think you miss out on so much in life, but you don't really. I've realized that.
A lot of people do that, go through this kind of thing. Agassi was going through it. Jennifer. Everybody has sometimes those fallouts. It's great that we always had another chance and opportunity to come back and play this game.

March 14, 2006

An interview with: MARTINA HINGIS

M.HINGIS / L.Davenport : 6-3, 1-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Martina.

Q. First game of the third set, you came back from 15-30 to take that game. The second game you hit a couple of backhand winners down the line. Third game, brilliant overhead.
MARTINA HINGIS: That's the third set or first?

Q. Third set.
MARTINA HINGIS: Good memory (laughter).

Q. Tagged the line a couple of times, returned two overheads. You're up 4-1. Do you feel like all the big points are yours?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, in the third set, I think that was a pretty big point because breaking her to go up 3-1 definitely gave me a little more confidence, and also trying to run away in the third set. It always helps.
Yeah, then just holding my serve. That took a little bit pressure away from me. I had to kind of scoop off air that I could breathe, and then it's just continue to have the fluency.

Q. You look poised to win this tournament. If you win this tournament, will it bring an end to the comeback trail to win this tournament?
MARTINA HINGIS: I'm not even close to win it yet. When I saw the draw, I was looking, yeah, maybe potentially third round or like fourth round to play Lindsay. I'm over this bump now. Just looking forward to the next match because as soon as you start looking too far ahead, you might lose focus.
I think Safina is a very tough opponent. Just definitely have to look at her seriously.

Q. What does it mean psychologically to beat Lindsay? She's one of the markers for you, right?
MARTINA HINGIS: Definitely. Match-wise, you know, to beat Lindsay here in Indian Wells where it probably matters a little bit more than anything else, she lives close by, probably Grand Slams, that's the tournaments you aim for when you're No. 2 or 3 in the world.
This one I know she takes very seriously. To beat her here, it's great, yeah.

Q. How much does it say to you about where you are? Does it help you know where you are?
MARTINA HINGIS: For sure. Beating Lindsay today here under these circumstances on this occasion, it's definitely not easy mentally for me to play her. It's the first time since I've been back to play her. But now I know that I have the potential to meld with the best, and that's very helpful, yeah, confidence.

Q. In your mind, what was the difference in the match today?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, in a way I was probably a little more fresh. Maybe she has the advantage over me that she's still been around for the last three years. Probably I was a little more determined, even more hungry. I ran down a lot of balls, which probably other girls try to overhit her or risk too early. Even I had a letdown a little bit in the second set, I just tried to focus in the third early on, just to put her under pressure, and it worked.

Q. She said that she has a bulging disc in her back which has been bothering her. Were you aware of that? Did you feel that out in the match at all?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I mean, she's been around on the tour for so long, she has experienced a lot of different injuries. When you feel a little bit here and there, I don't know exactly what she had. I mean, you couldn't see any tapes or anything. But sometimes you could see in her walk.
I think I also made her, you know, even think about it probably more. You still have to play. Even if someone's injured, you still just have to take advantage of it. Everybody has a little something. It's not like you go on court sometimes with not having anything.
I was pretty close to a hundred percent. That's the goal of what you try to do when you are in an all-year-round sport like tennis.

Q. You didn't spend that much time inside the baseline. Was that by design? She wouldn't let you in? You wanted to stay back?
MARTINA HINGIS: It's hard. She was hitting the balls like this close to the lines. It's very hard to mentally stay focused all this time because you're under so much pressure. I mean, like no one else probably. She served very well. Her first and second shot are, you know, the best out there.
She pushes you away from the line. I mean, with her, you just have to -- I mean, everyone says you have to try to make her run, but it's very difficult. Once you get over a rally which is three, four points, then you have definitely a better chance. But usually you don't even get there.

Q. During this incredible comeback run you're going through now, has it ever crossed your mind, "Why did I leave in the first place?"
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I knew the reason why I left the game. Like I said already in some of the interviews previously, I had to face players like Serena, Lindsay, the sisters all the time, then probably I wouldn't give myself this question. But looking at the game from the outside and commentating, looking at the players, how they did, maybe four or five years ago everyone was really determined and hungry. It was like 20 players out there who could win the tournament.
Now really somehow it feels like it narrowed down to five, maybe 10 sometimes. It's always a different Russian who is really hungry and determined.
I mean, sometimes it felt like they all had their run. Now they're trying to bounce back. But it's not as intense as it used to be.

Q. Freshness is a key element?
MARTINA HINGIS: Sure. My body feels like it's going fine now again.

Q. Lindsay pounces on second serves maybe as well as anyone in tennis. Your second serve wasn't probably as bad as it looked today because no one is going to take advantage of it like Lindsay.
MARTINA HINGIS: You're right. Because you're under so much pressure, I mean, against other players you get away with it. Not against Lindsay.

Q. You played her so many times.
MARTINA HINGIS: What is it, 25?

Q. 25 today. You had a good rivalry. You had a period when you were beating her. Towards the end, she was beating you pretty regularly. You go out on court today. Was the tennis a lot different or did it feel like 2001, 2002 all over again?
MARTINA HINGIS: It's hard. Once you're on court and you play the first few games of the first set, it definitely felt like being back in there, those big battles we used to have. Unfortunately, we had to face each other in the fourth round already. But I think it was definitely worth a semis or a final match today.
Hopefully I get there to have a better ranking soon and I don't have to play her that early.

Q. More within the match-up, when you went on court today, did you remember your other matches with her, when you play her now in 2006, did you say to yourself that you were going to have to do a few things differently than when you left?
MARTINA HINGIS: Yes and no. I mean, watching her over the last three years, you know she has some things which she improved on and some which got worse. You know, trying to take advantage of those weakness and strengths she has. Probably one time it crossed my mind, the finals we had here once. I was up like 4-1, 4-2, 40-15. I ended up losing the match. I'm like praying once I was up 5-1, I was like hopefully now I can finish it (smiling).
I know that I was up a set and, like I said, 4-2, 40-15. I didn't make it. I ended up losing that match. That was one of the finals which I -- somehow sometimes you want to turn back time. Yeah, that crossed my mind around 4-1. Once I made 5-1, I was happy.

Q. Speaking about matches you've had, you've had some wild ones, the French Open. Coming back and looking at that as the next Slam, is that something you're looking forward to or is there a sense of unfinished business there?
MARTINA HINGIS: I think every tournament I'm playing at I take it seriously. Like I said, I mean, like you've been saying, I've missed three years. I don't want to miss any more time out there.

Q. Is this the most satisfying victory of your comeback, considering your history with Lindsay?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, I would say every match which I was winning, even like the first match being back, the first one at the Australian Open, then making the quarters, maybe the run I had in Tokyo was pretty good. But today, one of them, yeah, definitely. Definitely peaks.

Q. Lindsay says your balls are clearing the net by more.
MARTINA HINGIS: I'm trying to have more spin. It's a harder ball to take. I mean, sometimes it's slower, but it's more like probably the men would play, like heavier topspin. Don't get it there all the time, like behind the service line. Still a very tough one to control and do something out of it.

Q. You're going to hit your forehand like Rafael Nadal soon?
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't think so. I don't have such shoulders. Sometimes now already I'm like, "Oh, my God."

Q. What is your status in the locker room now? Do younger players look up to you? Are they afraid of you?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, I have very friendly relationships. Sometimes I would hit with some of them, like Maria Kirilenko, even Maria - the other Maria. I've been playing well. I mean, no one was ever like afraid. I mean, sometimes maybe on court they have respect. I think always you have to leave it on court and not outside. I mean, it's still a life.
You have to live beside the tennis courts. I'm not the kind of person who is just going to streamline. I've never been like that.
It's kind of nice that we have this separate locker room for champions, so you have your privacy and quiet time. Thank God I won here once.

Q. A lot of people dismissed Team Tennis, they say it's exhibition tennis. Would you be here now without it?
MARTINA HINGIS: Maybe not. Without it, I probably wouldn't be out here. I don't know. It's a hard question to answer, but it definitely gave me confidence to be playing those matches. It was still not totally exhibition, but it was not professional tennis, but somewhere in between. You still have to go out there and don't want to blame yourself, you try to get prepared and play with a team. I've always been very much a team player. I usually enjoy playing doubles more than anything else, Hopman Cup, all these things.
Yeah, I don't know. Without the Team Tennis to give myself some confidence that I still had some game, yeah, probably.

Q. Did McEnroe help you?
MARTINA HINGIS: I played only two matches with Mack. I think the one week I was with the team, we already had a nice lead to make the semis. He just kind of joined us. I played a couple mixed doubles. That was about it, yeah.

Q. What do you admire most about Roger Federer on and off the court?
MARTINA HINGIS: His probably discipline and devotion to the game, professionalism he has. It's like amazing that at such a young age as he is to be so dedicated, yeah, professional about his sport.

Q. How do you feel about the fact that there's not bonus points any more? Do you feel badly, because you probably would have gone up a lot faster?
MARTINA HINGIS: Oh, that doesn't matter to me. Doesn't matter. Sometimes it's easier if you play a top player sooner than later because once they're in the game, it's probably sometimes harder to beat them.
Slowly but surely I'm getting there. Hopefully I don't have to play someone like Justine or Mauresmo or Lindsay first, second round. I think I've almost reached that right now.

Q. Was it a special feeling to walk out there today and resume a rivalry with Lindsay?
MARTINA HINGIS: It definitely was. Playing her, you know, like we've been saying, she's the one who you kind of aim for, you've been playing all those years. She's still there. Yeah, you definitely find out where you're at, what your potential still is.
Yeah, it was always special to play Lindsay. 

March 12, 2006

An interview with: MARTINA HINGIS

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Martina, please.

MARTINA HINGIS: No? Okay.

Q. Any chance to work on things in a match like that? I mean, do you ever use it to say, okay, what can I -- take some chances and do some things or you just want to get through, get the win?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I think pretty much you get through, get it done. But definitely I think in the second set or toward the end of the first, I mean sometimes it's more like sticking to the strategy, don't change anything because you might get caught up with your own things. So you just try to really -- probably toward the end, I try to be more aggressive and really step in a little bit more, try and, you know, get to the net and close it up there. So, yeah.

But sometimes it's like if you try to change something, it doesn't work all of a sudden. So you still have to find a way not to overdo it.

Q. Martina, take it through your thought process for those three years you were off the tour. What led you to really make the decision to come back earlier this year?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, you've got to be kidding. I mean, that's going to be an answer which takes me probably a week to answer.

Q. If you could summarize, if you could.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I just made every year adjustments, you know. First year was just really -- I moved back and moved away from the game and just tried to do other things, you know. It's pretty much all on the Internet if you read some stories, you know, every year.

Q. You did a lot of horseback riding that was documented, but...

MARTINA HINGIS: Right. I haven't done anything else, but that, so that's pretty much -- last year the Team Tennis and I nothing really crossed my mind, you know.

Q. Was there a moment or an epiphany where you said I'm going or...

MARTINA HINGIS: Not really. It just was a process really of thoughts.

Q. Martina, do you feel that players of your size can make it, maybe you can, but other players can come along and make it?

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't think -- yeah, I don't think I'm the only one. If you look at Justine, you know, she's the same height, maybe even like an inch smaller, so...

Q. But are you the exception, not the rule on the tour?

MARTINA HINGIS: I'm not the only one. I mean --

Q. No.

MARTINA HINGIS: Justine, you know, is definitely, you know, a girl who shows that you can have physical disabilities, but you can still make it, you know. And I'm probably one of them and there are always some in the past and there's definitely some in the future. And tennis, that's the beauty about the game. You still have chances no matter what size you are.

Q. Martina, you made a lot of beautiful dropshots in that match. Take us through the moment of when the professional tennis player knows the time to hit that dropshot.

MARTINA HINGIS: When the wind comes floating against you, you're running for a shot, you don't know what to do anymore and you throw a drop shot. No, it's -- especially when you see the opponent being pinpointed to a wall and, you know, just try to put it at short angle or just really backspin it.

Because playing against the wind sometimes, you just don't have that much power and energy, so that's just -- just you throw something different into the point. Yeah, because a lot of girls, they're so backed up, so even if it's not a perfect dropshot sometimes, it's just a variety that helps, yeah.

Q. So if you're going into the wind, you hit those dropshots if you're with the wind?

MARTINA HINGIS: With the wind.

Q. If you have the wind at your back?

MARTINA HINGIS: I wouldn't suggest that, no. But sometimes, you know, even if it's like a low one, short one, it still can work. But mostly, yeah, you'd hit that one against it.

Q. Do you think your colleagues will learn from you that the dropshot is not an obsolete weapon?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I mean --

Q. You don't see anybody else doing it.

MARTINA HINGIS: Justine has.

Q. Well, we're --

MARTINA HINGIS: Sometimes, you know, she can.

Q. I'm talking about people who play tennis, you or Justine.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think it just -- in general, when you look at girls in the academies, they are just not taught that way. I think they're just not even given a chance to be playing like I was five, six hours standing on the court and doing whatever I want to do at times. Maybe one, two hours I was really focused with my mom, but the rest I just play a lot of doubles, a lot of matches.

You've just got to find a way, and I think it's just because they're always so one-sided, playing with their coach or playing with their hitting partner. And you know just boom, boom, boom all the time. I think it's also the problem of the coaches or parents, because they don't teach them no different. I don't think it's the problem for the girls because I think if you show them how to do it, how it's done, I think a lot of them, they would use more skills.

Q. You're right. Most of the coaches should be shot with rubber bullets.

MARTINA HINGIS: Exactly.

Q. Martina, you think the day will come when we'll see a net --

MARTINA HINGIS: You said that (laughter).

Q. I did.

Do you think the day will ever come when we'll see women being net rushers, continually rushing the net, or do we now have to be satisfied with baseline player for the rest of the history of the game?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I probably can't change that, can I?

Q. But do you think it will change?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, if you write about it and bring stories, you know, girls maybe -- or people start thinking about it. I mean, it's just not me. I try to, you know, just be a little part of it, how it could be. But I mean, even me, I'm not the typical, you know, serve-and-volleyer person. I mean, it's one thing which I have to overcome, also coming in because I'm a woman. It's not in the woman's nature to just attack, and you have to learn that.

Q. Martina, just a while ago Justine was remembering back to the practices you had with her in Saddlebrook when she said that she was taken by surprise when you wanted to actually toss -- toss the coin of who was going to serve first in the practice session. And she said you're competitive in practice. Is there anything --

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, she's the least one to say so.

Q. Is there anything that you're not competitive in?

MARTINA HINGIS: I mean, I think it's an athlete's mind. It's not only athletes, we have different kind of people, some are competitive, some aren't. But I definitely am. I mean, no matter what I do, if I play cards, if I play checkers. I mean it doesn't matter what I do. Anything I touch, the ball with the racket or play soccer or do skiing, I always try my best, or at least if I feel like I have the opportunity or possibility.

I mean, yeah, it's just -- it makes it more fun. I mean the challenge, the competition, if you know there's someone on your level -- I mean I wouldn't try with someone who's not, you know, who's a lot better or worse. It's no challenge. But I mean, just playing with Justine at Saddlebrook, I mean, she's been on the tour, she was the No. 2 or 3 in the world, yeah, definitely No. 1. But at that time, she tried a comeback. But I mean, I was happy that I was able to play and hit with her. Why shouldn't I try my best?

Q. She wasn't being negative.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, no, I know.

Q. She thought it was amusing. But do you think that if you're not competitive, you wouldn't enjoy it as much?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, not only that, but maybe if I wouldn't be competitive and just come in there and just like lack it, then, you know, she probably wouldn't be -- wouldn't be wanting to hit with me anymore and I don't want that.

Q. I meant in general. I don't mean specifically. In tennis, if you're not trying to be competitive in something, you're not necessarily going to enjoy it as much.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's always been in my nature. I mean, I don't know. It's just not -- yeah, I mean, I don't sleep well at night and I wake up in the morning and everything's not as much fun, you know. I don't know. I mean, are you sure want to write the best story possible or not?

Q. Martina, the tournament seems to be depending on you a lot to put a little zip in the women's competition, for instance, the No. 1 and 2 seeds were positioned today on the outside courts and you're playing in the stadium. Clearly you're a -- kind of a glamour figure this week. Is that putting any more pressure on you, do you suppose?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think a lot of things have a reason for why I played on the stadium today. I mean, I saw Lindsay in the locker room and I thought, "Well, definitely if we get to play today, I'm going to be on one of the outside courts." And she definitely had the opportunity to play on stadium, which she didn't -- you know, maybe the night match or something, but she'd rather play in the day because it's so chilly, I think. And also it's not just me, but the TV have a lot of things to say.

So, you know, I mean at the end of the day, I was surprised to see my name on center court, but -- because there is a lot of names out there, and especially also on the men's draw, but I'm definitely happy that I did get the chance to play on it.

Q. How excited are you about the possibility of playing her again? I know I asked you that the other day, but it's almost here.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I'm very excited, you know, to -- we've had great battles over the years, and now that I haven't played her since my comeback, it's -- you know, it's definitely a great challenge. We always played one of the best matches because we knew every time we played, either we win the tournament or we were close to doing so. So always brought the best tennis out of each other.

Q. Do you have a little checklist in your mind of all the best players, because you've played Sharapova, Justine, Clijsters, Lindsay is next, you're down to the end now. As you play each one of them and you play them competitively, do you say, okay, I can play with her, I can play with her? Is that how you think of it?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah definitely. I mean, you know, playing Justine and playing already couple weeks later Clijsters, three sets, and beating Sharapova and playing her again Mauresmo, now Lindsay, it definitely puts you where you're at.

Q. She's someone that you once turned to and said, "I can't beat you," you know. So there must be a little bit of -- if you can come back and you're as competitive or more than before, that's a good thing, that's a good --

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't think anyone wants to lose the third round of the tournament. I mean, we play each other early in the tournament. That's definitely one of the goals, that I try to move up as soon as possible so I don't have to face someone like Lindsay in the third round. But it's here right now and one of us has to leave the tournament. But you know, I think we both give it the best shot, but that's the game.

March 10, 2006

An interview with: MARTINA HINGIS

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Martina, please.

Q. Did you work a sweat up out there?

MARTINA HINGIS: The first three games it was a little chilly out, but, you know, after that it got a little better, warmer, and once you're in the match you just play. I mean, you know...

Q. So how did you feel to play your first WTA event in the States, over three and a half years since the Open?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it's great. I mean, it was a nice crowd today, and even like the first I got here already, Sunday, so I've been practicing a few days.

Wherever I go there's -- people are very welcoming and very friendly, "It's great to have you back," and all that. So even before I play the match, you feel -- I feel very comfortable going out there.

Q. So what memories came back, because you've played some fairly big matches here, wins, a few losses, mostly wins. So what came into your mind when you were out there?

MARTINA HINGIS: It's a nice stadium.

Q. Good.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's great to be back out there. I don't know. It's just like, you know, when you hearing applause, people are there wanting to see you, you know. It's great, and I played some good points early on, and then you just get going.

And Cami, I've never played her before, but I was very comfortable with playing her and just trying to get through that match. And just in general, I'm very happy to be back in the States and playing. You know, sometimes I think, well, when I've finished a match and got back to my chair, I thought, well, I wasn't thinking that it could ever happen again, you know, at some point.

Q. Do you get the feeling with some of the new generations, they're not comfortable defending dropshots or when you go to come to net or some of the angles you create, they've never seen that before or certainly not very often. Does that go through your head?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, yeah, maybe. The variety really helps me to get through those matches. But, I mean, she didn't give any free points. I mean, you had to really work your points out there, and I was maybe a little surprised. But on the other hand, I knew she's not going to overpower me.
I've seen her a little bit in the past playing some matches and I knew what to expect, but somehow in the windy conditions, even today you have to be very careful not to, you know, overdo it, and you have to work your points out there, and she certainly did that.

I mean, she kind of didn't fall on, you know, me drop-shotting or even if I came to the net. I mean she had some pretty good passing shots and I was like, okay, I really have to do something out there.

Q. You went early though to the dropshot and?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it was just something that didn't really work. It worked on the breakpoint, but the first one was pretty good, and then I tried it on the forehand court and that didn't work.

Q. The third just missed, the third was almost really --

MARTINA HINGIS: I mean, you just try to do certain things. I really felt comfortable with my game, you know, the last few practice sessions. So I just try to do some extra things, some fancy shots, which is sometimes probably don't do against someone like Justine or Kim or like early stage, but if you feel comfortable, you can try.

Q. Martina, what got you back -- welcome back by the way.

MARTINA HINGIS: Thanks.

Q. What got you back and when did you decide to come back?

MARTINA HINGIS: I got the question on the court, what was your motivation? I'm like, well, playing in front of a crowd like tonight, and hopefully, you know, there will be even bigger ones as further I get in the tournament hopefully, and maybe I was just really -- the passion for the game and just try another -- one more time, give myself this opportunity and chance, if I can survive against, you know, the top players and really just be challenged.

Q. Is that a long time in coming, was that an overnight sort of process?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, it was a progress. It was definitely a progress of different thoughts and playing exhibitions, the Team Tennis in the U.S., yeah.

Q. Martina, when you were training this fall, what were the areas you were thinking? Okay, I need to come back in January and these are a couple things I really need to improve if I'm going to play top level tennis again?

MARTINA HINGIS: Mainly it's fitness, you know, know whether or not I'm going to last the match and, you know, how my feet are going to cope with everything. I mean, you can practice as much as you want, really, but you can never simulate a match and all the nerves which I have when I play my first event. There you just have to keep going, be patient, hopefully, you just mentally just take it easier and it was nice that it happened.

Q. Serving, forehand, were those areas of concentration because even before you retired, those were a couple areas you were trying to improve?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, but I --

Q. It looks like even on the first serve you are getting a little more speed on it.

MARTINA HINGIS: Like tonight, I mean, there's windy conditions, so you just try to put, you know, more first serves in which is -- try to have a little higher percentage. She's not going to kill me off the first serve or anything, even on the second.

But I feel very comfortable with my forehand today. Those are things which come with confidence. I mean, if I had matches in the past which were, you know, playing the Williams sisters, you just weren't able to break down on those things. If it happened, you lost. And if it didn't happen, you would win. I mean those were always things I try to work on, but I mean, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Q. Does it feel like fans are embracing you even more than before?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, maybe I have this little underdog thing right now, just like not being out there for three years and the comeback. I mean, you've seen that in the past with other athletes. It's nice to, you know, feel the same way.

Q. Does that feel good, the first time in a while to be the underdog?

MARTINA HINGIS: I have nothing to lose, yeah. I mean, at least I can take advantage of the crowds on my side.

Q. But you were never unpopular. You were never the kind of champion people were really against.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, no. But still it feels -- now you can really feel it. I mean even when I play Australia or the other events, Tokyo, you know, people always like me there. But also playing well and coming back, you know...

Q. But it's got to be, Martina, radically different. You've been on the other side. You played Monica during your comeback in Roland Garros when every single fan was in love with her and her comeback.

MARTINA HINGIS: Right.

Q. Now, it's almost like an automatic, you come back, you're the champion, you're completely on the other side, people are just completely embracing you, right?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah. It's nice, I mean, to be on the other side for once. Especially maybe the one match against Steffi that was even more, because people felt like, okay, she's -- that's probably her last chance to win a Grand Slam, or, you know, you could really see the edge coming up.
But, yeah, so, I mean, I was only 19 back then, 18, 19, so....

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