Martina Hingis' comeback in singles: a distant possibility
Martina Hingis recently made an announcement saying that she will come out of retirement to play in a doubles event. The announcement made headlines and it led to the speculation regarding the Swiss legend’s possible comeback in the singles fold too. She had done it in the past in multiple occasions and she might just do it again. However, the chances are slim and if she does come out of her self imposed exile, she certainly will find it extremely difficult to compete at the top level.
Hingis is an extraordinary player, extremely talented and blessed with finesse and class of the highest order; a rare individual who scaled great heights at a very tender age. She was well above her contemporaries and dominated them when she was at her peak. Everything was going on well and she was apparently on her way to become an even greater player than she already was, when tragedy struck in the form of ligament injuries in both her ankles. The injuries compounded and she eventually had to retire from the sport.
Tennis is a passion and passions hardly die, and for someone like Hingis, who was born and brought up in a family of professional tennis players, tennis is more than just a passion. Fuelled by her love for tennis and her resolve to overcome her injury, she made a comeback. Unfortunately, she could only manage comparatively moderate success in her second stint. After her super successful first stint, anything lesser will obviously seem moderate, but that was not the concern. What came as a shock to her fans and the tennis lovers alike was the new Martina Hingis who looked a far inferior clone of the 16-year-old girl who took over the tennis world like a storm. Stung by a series of injuries, she was in and out of retirement multiple times.
The tennis lovers have always wanted her to do well. Her every comeback bid has been appreciated and this one is no different. But this time, it’s going to be the toughest challenge for her for various reasons. First of all, she is no longer the young Martina Hingis who enthralled everyone with her excellent gameplay. She will be 33 this year and even though ‘form is temporary while class is permanent’, her ageing body combined with the complex nature of her injury may be too much a challenge for her. While a comeback in the doubles seems an easier and smarter choice for her, unfortunately, the same cannot be said about a comeback bid in the singles. As much as we would like her to play and win in singles, we cannot deny the fact that it’s not going to be a walk in the park for Hingis.
Second, tennis is a mentally challenging and physically demanding game. While she may have less difficulty in overcoming the mental challenges, she will have to put in some heavy work to deal with the game’s physical aspects.
Finally, the competition at the top level is fierce. If Hingis is to break into the top 5 in singles, then she has to compete with players like Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, who are not only talented but are younger, fitter and stronger than her. She would have to bring out the best in her to beat them and win titles; after all, winning titles is of utmost importance.
If Hingis is to come back in singles, she must be prepared to beat the current best players. Otherwise it would be meaningless and painful for her fans to witness another failed comeback attempt from a player who always has been held in high regard.