Sony Ericsson WTA Tour : 2005


Hingis To Make Return To Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Former world No.1 Martina Hingis has decided to return to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2006, her management company Octagon confirmed on Tuesday

"I was never happy that my injuries cut my career short and ultimately forced my decision to step away from tennis," said Hingis. "I have enjoyed my time away from the court, a period that has allowed me to experience a different side of life. However, I miss the game and the challenge of competing at the highest level of tennis, and I want to gauge whether I can stay healthy and compete against today's top players."

During her storied career, Hingis has won 76 singles and doubles titles including 14 Grand Slam titles. She is the youngest player in history to reach No.1 in the world rankings (16 years, six months), one of only five women players to have been ranked No.1 in singles and doubles at the same time (a feat she accomplished for 35 consecutive weeks from June 1998 to March 2000), and ranked fourth all-time on the career prize money list, behind only Graf, Navratilova and Davenport.

Foot injuries forced her out of the game at the end of 2002 at the age of 22.

"Martina Hingis is one of the game's great champions and unique personalities," said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. "For fans of women's tennis, Martina's return will add another level of excitement to the sport and enhance the incredible rivalries and roster of big-name stars. Her passion for the game has never wavered and we look forward to her return."

"Martina has meant so much to the game of tennis, both on the court with her results and off the court through her continuous charity involvement," said Phil de Picciotto, Octagon's President of Athletes & Personalities. "She had just turned 22 when injuries forced her to stop. Now at the age of 25, with several surgeries behind her, Martina is looking forward to the challenge of playing a competitive schedule of events."

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