"Almost my age & Martina Hingis was winning Slams, I couldn't believe how good she was" - When Roger Federer was excited to partner Hingis at Olympics
Roger Federer once shared his excitement about partnering with Martina Hingis at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Swiss also emphasized his profound admiration for his compatriot's remarkable talent, revealing that he looked up to her in his youth.
15 years after they beat Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill to triumph at the 2001 Hopman Cup, Federer and Hingis were set to revive their formidable doubles partnership at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In a 2015 interview with the BBC, Roger Federer shared that he was "really excited" to team up with Martina Hingis again, disclosing that he had idolized her when he was younger.
The Swiss raved about Hingis' "unbelievable talent," marveling at her incredible achievements as a teenager. Despite the two being only a year apart in age, Hingis had won five Grand Slam singles titles at the age of 18, well before Federer clinched his maiden Major title.
"I looked up to her when I was younger, I thought she was the most unbelievable talent. She's almost my age and she was winning grand slams while I was still at the national tennis centre and I couldn't believe how good she was," he said.
The then-17-time Grand Slam champion also emphasized the significance the Olympics held for him, describing each edition as a "super-amazing" experience, especially being chosen as Switzerland's flag bearer in both Athens and Beijing.
"I've always said the Olympics is very important to me. Every Olympic Games has been a super-amazing experience, an eye-opener, a great learning curve for me," he said.
"Seeing other athletes, getting inspired and motivated, carrying the flag is such a proud moment in my career and my life as a person. To have done that twice for Switzerland, in Athens and Beijing, was incredible," he added.
Roger Federer pulled out of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Martina Hingis commiserated with compatriot over the "tough decision"
Despite the immense anticipation surrounding Roger Federer and Martina Hingis' double partnership, it eventually didn't pan out as Federer was forced to pull out of the 2016 Rio Olympics and cut his season short.
In a statement on Facebook, the Swiss explained that he required "extensive rehabilitation" after undergoing knee surgery and expressed profound disappointment over his withdrawal.
Although Hingis was disappointed over their partnership falling through, she commiserated with Federer over his "tough decision" and wished him a speedy recovery.
"It is unfortunate that Roger will not be playing any tournaments for the remainder of the 2016 season, which includes the Rio Olympics," she posted on Facebook.
"Naturally, I would have loved to partner with him there, but I know that it was a very tough decision for him and he is equally disappointed. Obviously, I wish him a full and speedy recovery and hope to see him playing again soon!" she added.
Although Martina Hingis was unable to take part in the mixed doubles event at the Rio Olympics, she did enjoy success in women's doubles alongside Timea Bacsinszky.
The Swiss duo clinched the silver medal after losing 6-4, 6-4 to Russia's Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova in the final, ending Hingis' hopes of completing the career Golden Slam in doubles.