By DPA
New York : A decade after the domination which took her to three Grand Slam titles as a teenager in 1997, former US Open winner Martina Hingis has no trouble putting the tennis past and present into perspective.
“Sometimes it feels like yesterday, sometimes like a lifetime,” said the 26-year-old Swiss champion from a decade ago who moved into the second round Tuesday defeating Mathilde Johansson of France.
“When you wake up in the morning you feel really good, you feel like you’ve been on the tour forever.”
Hingis, who returned to tennis in early 2006 after a three-year pause due to foot and ankle injuries, has faced a harder slog in her “second life”. But since returning she has won titles in Rome and Kolkata in 2006 and Tokyo indoors last January.
Despite her 16th seeding following a comeback from an inflammation of the hip, back, femur bones, she still packs huge star power at the big events.
“The recognition I get, the response has been tremendous over the years. I walk into New York restaurants, people know me,” she said.
“It’s a great thing to be rewarded with. I’m just very happy to be back out here and playing good tennis.”
Hingis is pleased with her return to the sport after what she had considered a retirement in late 2002.
“I had a good comeback last year, you have to keep evolving and keep trying to get better.”
While she’s not yet considered a serious title contender, that doesn’t slow the Hingis enthusiasm.
“I get to play on centre court, that felt really good. My name’s still out there. Not all the people get to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium. I got to play out there today, I feel very proud of that.”
Coming off of a second round defeat at Flushing Meadows in 2006, the Swiss has little to lose at this edition, especially after her physical problems of the past five months.
“The last couple months were kind of rocky road with all the injuries. But every match is a good match, every victory is a good one,” she said.
“I feel like I can only win at this tournament, things can only get better.”