Q. When you're up 3 Love in the third, you must have thought you were going to win that. What went wrong?

MARTINA HINGIS: So did I, yeah. Still I was up, I think it was a really long game to go up 2 Love. Then 3 Love, it was still very draining, those games. At 3 Love, I kind of made this weird step, so I started feeling my thigh.

But, I mean, there's no excuse.

She didn't miss. She played a great match. She's probably, on this surface, harder to play than anything else because she's very fast. She likes those flat balls. Tried to be even faster, but not today.

Q. How big is your disappointment to be out at this stage of this tournament where you've been so good?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, of course, I wish to come further in the tournament, I mean, no question. But I knew I had to face a tough opponent today. I mean, maybe from the previous two matches, everyone was thinking, you know, I'm going through easy. But I knew today, it's going to be crucial because she is a very good player and she's been around for a long time, and I haven't played her since my comeback.

You know, she's a tough cookie. She's a strong survivor.

Q. Three Grand Slams now into your comeback to tennis. You started out the season getting your feet back under you, making some progress. Would you agree you've hit a plateau right now; you're not really moving forward very much, if at all?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I wouldn't say so. I mean, I won Rome. I was still moving up. At the French Open, I just really had a bad day of food. I didn't think there I did anything wrong. I was playing better as the tournament progressed. It's just Kim, you can't play her if you're not hundred percent.

You know, then last couple weeks, I've been training. I thought I was doing better. Also here in the tournament. But I definitely Sugi was a different level from the other two matches. I mean, it's not even today. I still was close of winning this I mean, not really close, but I had the momentum definitely. It's not like I lost 1 1.

You know, definitely there is certain things I have to think about.

Q. You don't see this as any kind of a setback?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, you can take it either way. I mean, usually in the past, losses made me stronger. I knew what I had to work on and continue to progress.

Q. How did it feel to be back on Centre Court? Did it feel odd?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, it felt really nice. I actually like that court a lot better than Court 1. Somehow it felt familiar when I stepped out there. Also in the beginning I was up a break, 3 1. Unfortunately, I lost it again. It's not like I, you know, didn't feel comfortable. It's just today was not the right day. I don't know. I mean, there's no explanation right now for me. Somehow I got to have to figure out, yeah.

Q. How do you avoid getting frustrated, and keeping positive for the rest of the year?

MARTINA HINGIS: The year is still long. I usually always had, you know, French Open, and midway through the season, I always had a little crisis. It's no news. I always came back strong in San Diego. I mean, I've got three, four weeks to work on myself. Usually I always did well there.

Q. Would you call this a little crisis then?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, in the past, I mean, I had couple first round losses here. So, I mean, I can't say, consider this either I did really well, had a victory here, semifinals and a quarterfinals, but always up and down. So usually I made it through the French, and then Wimbledon either I made it or I didn't.

Definitely it's middle of season. Everyone's getting a little more tired because the clay court season was long and tough. Here is just very different circumstances. I think everyone's always going to get a breather before the hard court season.

Q. What's missing? What are the couple key components to your game that you feel you need to get back?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think it's in a way the lack of momentum to carry yourself on. It's just when I had her, you know, even in the first set, in the third set again, just keep going. You can't just let anything slip away like that.

Maybe in the past, I would get away with it sometimes but not against the top 5 or 10 players. But now anyone can go out there and bite you.

Q. Do you deal with defeat differently than the way you did earlier in your career?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, maybe today is less pressure. You know, I'm still not kind of the favorite to win Grand Slams. Definitely I'm in that kind of circle to be able to, but not someone who won it recently. Definitely the pressure's not as big on me as some of the other players.

But definitely I'm just as disappointed, you know, as some of the other players. But Wimbledon's always kind of special because we've had some, even losses today, you know. Kuzie went out, Groenefeld had an early loss, Patty yesterday. It kind of makes you think, Wimbledon you have to really be there and ready.

Q. Which part of her game annoyed you most, her running tennis or...

MARTINA HINGIS: She doesn't really have a weakness. I mean, she has a very, you know, solid game from the baseline, then her backhand down the line was deadly today, maybe more effective on this type of surface than anything else, yeah.

Q. Which woman do you think is going to win Wimbledon now?

MARTINA HINGIS: That's hard to say. Venus had a scare yesterday. She survived it. Well, Justine's looking strong. Amélie, Maria. All the top players have been playing very well so far.

Q. What are your thoughts on Swiss tennis development?

MARTINA HINGIS: Oh, that's probably not the right question to ask myself. I have not been really working with the Swiss Tennis Federation, so...

Q. Did you get as familiar with the grass as you hoped you would? As you came back, did it all work out okay or is there something different you might have done?

MARTINA HINGIS: I felt fine when I stepped on it. I mean, it's just very fast. You have to really move quickly around the court. I mean, if you're fast, it does help. If you have a big strong serve. I mean, I don't think that was why I lost today, definitely not. Maybe in the first set, it was. But just the aggressiveness, that was a little lacking in the important points. Just really having the confidence.

But, no, I mean, I played well. Even in the third set, I definitely had the momentum. It's just, you know, couldn't finish it off.

Q. How would you sum up your experience of Wimbledon 2006 both on and off court?

MARTINA HINGIS: I mean, I loved it until now. I really like coming back and playing here. The first couple rounds, I did well. But still somehow at Wimbledon you're never safe. I mean, when you're out on the grass, it seems like you never know how the next point's going to go, so you don't have like a certainty to make winners out of always the same positions. I mean, yeah, you can get yourself in good position with the same things, but it's never sure compared sometimes to other surfaces.

But, no, I mean, I like being in London, in Wimbledon village. I mean, so far it's been a great stay. But, yeah.

Q. Did you feel that way when you won it here, that you're never sure on grass? Is that a new development in your thinking about grass?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, I think it's always been like that. I mean, you can go one way, and right away it can also turn against you. I was up, and all of a sudden I lose the next four games. It's like, Okay, how did that happen? Lack of concentration sometimes.

M. Hingis Interview - Day 2
Tuesday, 27 June, 2006

Q. Were you available last night to take a penalty kick?

MARTINA HINGIS: Okay, I don't want to say something which could turn against me. No, it was a great match, a great battle. Unfortunately, not the right outcome for us.

Q. There are a lot of very good women players who are succeeding, but there's always a glitch in their game. There are very few players like yourself and Justine who are at the top of their game who are just about flawless in technique. How do you explain that? Why aren't there more players out there with great technique rather than just sheer power?

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know. You ask the coaches. Myself, I do not respect many of the coaches who are out there because I don't think they're doing the right thing with the girls. I don't know what the reason is, whether they're not watching or why they do things which are technically incorrect, even today. But, you know, everyone has its own way how they got there. You know, I really don't know. You would have to ask them why they think that's right or that's wrong. I mean, what is right and what's wrong?

Q. Can you expand on what you meant by you don't believe in a lot of the coaches that are out there. What do you mean by that?

MARTINA HINGIS: That they're not doing like they don't teach the girls the right things, what's played today. I mean, if you watch Roger Federer, who's playing really the top notch tennis out there, I think you always have to learn from the best. Like he is the best, so you better watch him. Go out there and watch him, what he's doing, even practice, and try to learn from that.

Q. You played some exquisite dropshots today. You seem to be really enjoying the game. Is that very much the case?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I had to do something, especially on grass. You have to try to have a lot of variety in your shots because somehow you always look for the ball. If you don't give the opponent the same shot twice, it definitely helps because the bounces and everything is just already so hard to get ready for, to control the ball. That's just to mix it up and so the opponent doesn't know what you're doing.

Q. What was it like to be back on the grass? It's been a while.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, don't tell me (laughter). It was nice. I mean, when I got here, I felt comfortable right away. I had a good preparation. I practiced well mainly indoors. I think that's in a way somehow my secret, how I succeed here, how I've been playing well, had some success in the past. I don't think I'm the only one. When Andre won, he was practicing indoors. Somehow it just gets your technique back together again. Even this morning I hit there. I think on grass, you can't ever teach someone to play on grass except trying to move in and just really have an offensive game.

Q. "Indoors," do you mean quicker?

MARTINA HINGIS: Quicker, yeah, but it's also the bounce is right. It's not such a huge difference. You don't have all the outside effects because on grass you're always looking, searching the ball. I feel like I need to get some rhythm before I go out there and play because it kind of messes up your technique. Once you get back in the rhythm, it's all back together again.

Q. You've been away for five years. They throw you into the graveyard the first time.

MARTINA HINGIS: I love that court.

Q. You do?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I have no bad experiences on that. I don't like Court 1, but I do like No. 2. They can have me play there all the time. I don't care.

Q. What do you like about it?

MARTINA HINGIS: It's small, intimate. Great atmosphere. Like yesterday, when I walked on the court, you really feel the fans. They're very close to you. I like that court. I never lost on that court.

Q. What is wrong with Court 1?

MARTINA HINGIS: Somehow it's a lot bigger. You feel like, I don't know, probably none of the greatest memories I have at Wimbledon.

Q. You say that everybody should play like Roger Federer. I'm sure everybody would agree with you.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, Nadal has his own way how to beat him. So I didn't say not just everyone has to play like Roger, because you can't copy.

Q. How difficult is it, because the players say the balls are heavier, the courts not at Wimbledon, but generally in the circuit are slower. How difficult is it for coaches to try to get their mind around trying to play like Roger Federer?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, like I said, Nadal found a way how to beat him. You have to be really strong to be able to do that. I think the way Roger plays is an easier way of also saving your body and not having to force yourself into so much. I think you can be (indiscernible), as well. I think it's just the way he practices, the way he trains, the way he does things. Always open minded, always willing to learn, just really having this kind of mind to come in, come forward. I mean, like a lot of players in Spain, the Latin players, in general, I mean, if my mom wouldn't have forced me to come in, move in, I'd be back on the baselines. I think it really is the mentality and the coach who helps you to force and to get the best out of you.

Q. I was going to ask about the atmosphere. Yesterday when you were waiting, some of the crowd shouted something, you laughed and applauded. We couldn't hear it. Could you explain it?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think it was just that section who couldn't hear it. They were singing the Top Gun song. I don't know what it's called. They were pretty good, too. It was special, yeah. I don't think that happens all the time. It happened to me for the first time, especially here at Wimbledon.

Q. Could you talk about what it was like last night to go home with the match not complete? Did it weigh on you terribly?

MARTINA HINGIS: Not at all. I was happy to have completed that first set. That last game took forever. We had ad, deuce, ad, deuce, like five times each. I was happy to close it out, to go away like that with the first set in my pocket.

Q. What time did you finally leave?

MARTINA HINGIS: Was it like 7:30 I think they told us. Then I just grabbed something to eat real quick, went home.

Q. What did you do all the time you were here? How did you spend the time?

MARTINA HINGIS: Play some backgammon. Just hang around, I guess, in the locker room a little bit. Just watched the rain. We watched the prognosis.

Q. A couple of questions about changes in the game since you were last year. You've talked about how much bigger the players are today. Do you think someone who is 5'4", even shorter, can be a top player, top 20, 30 or top 10 player; they make up for that lack of size in movement, strategy or court sense?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, it's a tough question. I mean, I'm already pretty much at the limit for the size. I mean, Justine and me, we are pretty much the smallest. Yeah, you have Anna Smashnova or even smaller girls, Llagostera. They're not like in the top 10. I would say, you know, sport evolves everywhere. You don't see gymnasts who are two meters. I think it's the way future kind of puts the sport into that direction.

Q. Are you aware of the number of Asians that are now in the game than when you were playing a few years ago? Is that something you've recognized since you've come back on tour?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I mean, when I kind of moved away, it was still a lot of Russians. Now it's even more. But now it seems like it's moving more to the East, yeah.

Q. Is this the best chance you have at a Slam this year, because it's not as physically demanding as the others?

MARTINA HINGIS: It's physically demanding in a different way. You really have to bend your knees, that's for sure. If you're not going to do that, you're nowhere. Yeah, it was like your muscles and everything, I've been practicing that. But indoors, still you're not forced to do it as much as probably here on grass, to just really be that low. It was nice. I think also it's so much up in the head, the mental focus is so important as well. It can just turn against you, like in an instant (snapping fingers). If you're not watching, one or two shots, you lose a break, it's hard to come back from that here.

Q. Intense focus, but not like going out there against Kim at Roland Garros when you know you have to run side to side?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it's mentally more intense, yeah.

Q. What are your thoughts on the difference in prize money between men and women here?>

MARTINA HINGIS: I think I would agree with a lot of the female players who are living in the 21st century. I think we can stand up for that because I think it's definitely time to have the equality. Otherwise women, probably if we weren't moving forward, women couldn't even vote today. I think we're definitely moving into that direction.

Q. What do you think of the arguments that the Wimbledon folks are making for the discrepancy?

MARTINA HINGIS: That they're for it?

Q. Wimbledon has this disparity in the prize money. They have a couple of arguments as rationale for that discrepancy. What do you think of the arguments?

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know exactly their arguments which are against it. I don't think sometimes it's the quantity that people are out there, but it's more the quality. I think the female players just as much attract, especially at the Grand Slams, people to watch and attend the matches as male players. 

Q. How does it feel to be back at Wimbledon after so long?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, five years it's been. It's really a great place to be back and they have done some interiors on the top of the roof, the garden, it's just so peaceful up there. You see the whole grounds and even when you have a cup of coffee and just look down at the court, it's nice.

Q. Is it more special to you since you have won here and you already cemented your place in Wimbledon history, does it feel a bit more comfortable coming back, less pressure?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, because you have won here you don't get questions like, oh, this is the only one you haven't won yet, but no, it's been a while, though, yeah, nine years, and it's just -- every year you get this member card this purple little thing with your name on it and definitely, when I came here two years ago for the commentary, you still get to go to some places where normally, you know, you get there either you are a member and get a cup of tea when no one is there, you have your peaceful time.

Q. Does it seem an awfully long time ago at the age of 16 when you won at Wimbledon or does it seem like yesterday?

MARTINA HINGIS: Sometimes it feels like it's not that long, but sometimes it does feel like it's long because you see it. It's nine years, and you have all the other names on the list and somehow kind of -- I look at it like this is the second time around, you know, second career. In some ways I feel like a rookie again because it has been so long since I have played here so it all feels very new again.

Q. Can your second career possibly be better than your first career?

MARTINA HINGIS: It is hard to do. But obviously it would be great if it could happen, but you have so many great players out there who are fighting for the same reason and working on the same goals, so again here, it's a very strong field. You always try to make the best out of it.

Q. If it can't be better than what is it that you are actually trying to achieve, would you say?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, really the game, to be able to perform at the best. A lot of people wouldn't think that I could really handle that anymore, the power game and all these ideas people had, and it was really nice that I showed that it was still possible. I didn't win a Grand Slam yet or didn't get all the way, but I was able to win a tournament, which was very nice to do again, and we'll see - step by step.

Q. Earlier this afternoon we had Andre Agassi sitting in this seat announcing his retirement this year. He's one of of the few rare examples of a player who has been able to be at the top, have time out and then come back from a very low-level. Is he an example to you to see that as an inspiration?

MARTINA HINGIS: Of course, he is an example for different reasons, you know, his game, his force he had on and off the court, just really the game itself and it was such -- such a personality you have to look for many years. I don't think there's another Andre Agassi ever going to be like that. There never has been and I don't think ever will be because times change and he just really played such a great game and I am sure that tennis will miss him, but, yeah, he's an inspiration in many ways.

Q. How did you feel this time every year for the last three, four years when you have not been able to play here? How was it for you to watch this thinking I may never play here again?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, when I was here two years ago, you know, you somehow when you are 22 you still have things in the back of your head you don't want to give up or you still have hope that maybe some day you can, I don't know, maybe play here again. That was a thought too far away, but when I was watching the matches and the games, my biggest fear was if I can last that long with my body and maybe one set I would last, but, who knew if I could last for longer than that. That was my probably biggest fear that couldn't cure again but I don't want to have any regrets either so that's why I wanted to try again. I just really love the game. When I was watching it, yeah, I did some matches in the commentary and there was the same people, same faces, which I was facing back then, so I thought, well, this still maybe I get another chance.

Q. What are your memories of your last match here?

MARTINA HINGIS: Not the greatest. I can only do better, right. (Laughs)

Q. What do you remember about that day? You had trouble with your back, didn't you?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, later you always know better, right, I shouldn't have played at all under those circumstances, but as a player you never want to give up and you just want to go out there and still try, but yeah, nothing like that hopefully will happen ever again.

Q. Can you tell us what your preparation on grass has been this year?

MARTINA HINGIS: I was at home and I was practicing indoors.

Q. You actually practiced on grass?

MARTINA HINGIS: We don't have that many grass courts around in Switzerland. I did it in the past. I went once up in the mountains, but it's just so different. You can't compare any grass to Wimbledon grass. Yeah, maybe in Queens or Royal Hampton (phonetic) or clubs like that, which is so close, but I don't think anything else can come even close to Wimbledon. So you just try to make the exercises and I think indoors -- actually in the past when I won in 1997 I practiced on clay, but it is all a matter of what you do on clay; it's not how you practice. That's the main --

Q. You were horse riding as well?

MARTINA HINGIS: I still did, but only a couple of times. Two weeks -- once a week, it's enough this time.

(Laughs)

Q. What are your memories of winning in 1997 and secondly, did you think when you won in 1997 I hope to win many more titles?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, that's when you are 17 you think that. It is only natural. At that point it was normal to me when I won three out of four Grand Slams and made the Finals at the French and I had a great winning streak and, in a way, you feel invincible, but, you know, I had players -- players are starting to get better and perform at the same level and it was always, you know, very equal when we played against Williams sisters and Monica, Jennifer, Lindsay, so, you know, sometimes it was a matter of one point.

Q. Have you been practicing here this week?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, today was my first day.

Q. Was that the first time that you have been on a grass court since 2001?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, I played last year. I played an exhibition in Eastbourne, just doubles, I had a hit earlier before that, it was preparation with Jana. She still plays unbelievable. I lost a tiebreaker. I was like wow. Whenever she steps on grass she's unbelievable.

Q. What did it feel like back on the court here having not played here for five years?

MARTINA HINGIS: It felt good. I like it. I think in some ways it's -- I wouldn't say similar, but because we have a lot of indoor courts in Switzerland, my mom has an indoor place as well, so it's very similar, but sometimes, yeah, you have the bounces and it is still outside so you have the sun and the wind effects, but other than that, I very much welcome the surface, yeah.

Q. What is your goal for this tournament? What is your realistic game?

MARTINA HINGIS: Hard to say. In a way, I am definitely satisfied with the draw. I have made quarterfinals in the last two Grand Slams, so in a way somehow you feel that's the least you want to do, but I don't know.

I just don't want to have any bad surprises, you know, that's the only thing. It's just to stay healthy and perform at the best and really take it one-by-one.

Q. Who would you consider the favorites in the women's tournament?

MARTINA HINGIS: In a way you have the same players who are very good at all Grand Slams. You can always count on them, who are the Top-10 players, Amelie, Justine, who won today in the Finals of Eastbourne, Kim Clijsters, Maria, who won here two years ago and Venus, you can never count her off. She's still got some skills last year, so she's definitely also a dangerous player.

Q. You see yourself amongst players who can potentially win here this fortnight?

MARTINA HINGIS: I definitely have hopes, yeah. I wouldn't say, you know, I don't know. I mean, definitely a good outsider.

Q. Some of the players have expressed amazingly how well you have done so far in your comeback. How would you assess your first six months?

MARTINA HINGIS: I am happy with my performances. Then you always wish for more and better, but that's the only natural thing you have as a competitor and just want to keep going and keep improving and keep, yeah, the balance keep going up, right, the scale.

Q. What is your opinion on the prize money not being balanced between women and men?

MARTINA HINGIS: I think in today's world it would be time to have equal prize money, but, you know, you can only do one thing to keep fighting.

Q. As a 14 year old when you played Steffi was that on the Centre Court or not?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yes, we played on Centre. And I played her the year after at the forefront and it was Centre again.