Hingis Is Standing in the Hall of Fame

Following a thrilling career that saw her bloom from a wonder kid to an all-time great, Martina Hingis got her place among the legends after she was formally inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 13th.

Hingis took the tennis world by storm in 1996. At only 15 years and 9 months she became the youngest Grand Slam champion of all time, teaming up with Helena Sukova to win the women's doubles title at Wimbledon. By the end of the season, the teen sensation was already an established top 10 presence, having bagged two titles, reached her maiden major semifinal at Flushing Meadows, as well as her first WTA Championships final. Her real breakthrough though came a year later, in 1997, when she became the undisputed tennis queen.

Nicknamed the 'Swiss Miss', Martina set the record for the youngest Grand Slam champion of the 20th century winning the Australian Open, before becoming the youngest player to top the WTA rankings in March. She would go on to claim two more major crowns, at Wimbledon and the US Open, the only hiccup coming in Paris, where she succumbed to a surprise defeat to Croat Iva Majoli in the final.

Her defining moment came at Roland Garros in 1999. The cocky teen had the world at her fingertips, but a I truly believe the final against arch-rival Steffi Graf marked the beginning of the end for the talented Swiss. Having served for the title, Martina could not control her emotions as she watched the experienced Graf fight her way into the match. In one of the most dramatic battles in history, the German prevailed. The victory gave her the perfect excuse to end the most remarkable careers tennis has seen. Hingis was not the same after the loss. Although she did play several major finals, she could not claim another title. Her consistency helped her retain the No.1 spot, but she was unable to withstood the power of the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport, or Jennifer Capriati for much longer.

Martina continued her successful run at the Australian Open where she played six straight finals. She came really close to winning the elusive Slam in 2002 where she led 6-4,4-0, but lost to Jennifer Capriati. Extremely frustrated with her game and her inability to beat the powerhouse players, Hingis called it quits in 2002, at the tender age of 22. She couldn't stay away too much though and she made a sensational comeback in 2006 by winning her first mixed-doubles Slam in Melbourne, where she partnered Indian Mahesh Bhupathi. She also reached the quarterfinals in singles, but her once shining bright halo had vanished. 

She once again grew frustrated as she battled minor injuries, and in what came as a huge shock to the world, the Swiss Miss retired for good at the end of 2007 after testing positive for cocaine. 

In her short-lived career, she has done it all. All except winning the French where she came really close on multiple occasions. A former world No.1 in both singles and doubles, with fifteen major trophies to her name (five singles, nine doubles and one mixed), the 'youngest-ever' girl of the WTA tour truly deserves her place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Congrats my all-time tennis darling!

Continuing her slew of 'youngest ever' accomplishment, Martina became the fourth youngest player to be inducted, following Tracy Austin (30), Bjorn Borg (31) and Hana Mandlikova (32).

"I'd like to tell you how deeply honored and moved I am to stand here in front of you today in this wonderful place with so much history," Hingis said. "I can only find words to express feelings I have now being a member of such an elite group our sport has elected to represent millions and millions of people worldwide playing tennis. I could repeat the words said so many times before here, that our sport has given me everything in my life, and it would be the truth. But maybe I can add something special, something to give you a little bit more insight about who I am and what this means to me.
"I was born behind the Iron Curtain, and my mother wanted to tear the curtain apart for me. That is the reason I played tennis as a little girl. In 1980, my mother didn't have many choices for giving me a better life and a chance for freedom to see the world. She chose the game of tennis as a way out of the world and the prison we lived in, so thank you, mom. She also gave me the name Martina after Martina Navratilova who was a great legend and a symbol of freedom in our country in Czechoslovakia.
"As the wall came down in '89, also, thanks to this great land of yours, I was already on the way, so thank you, mom, again, you gave me life, you gave me love, you gave me tennis. You gave me everything you could give me. Thank you, tennis. You gave me the world, and now I honestly am out of words, because there are no words to explain what I feel as you gave me a place here for eternity.
"When I was a little girl," Hingis continued, "I didn't know there was a Hall of Fame. When I was at the top of my game, I did not know there was more than sports. As I stand here now in front of you, I am not sure if I deserve all of this, but what more can I say? Thank you all, and I love you all."

Words of Wisdom from the Swiss Miss

Renowned for her juicy comments, Martina was a master at stirring waters and making a fuss. She starred in a number of high-profile 'wars', among which the now infamous verbal clashes with the Williams sisters, her nemesis, Steffi Graf, her doubles partners, Jana Novotna and Anna Kournikova, as well as Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo. Her cocky attitude combined with her utmost sincerity made the delight of the press, but got her into a lot of trouble at times. Here are just a few of her most memorable lines:

• On the comparison with Tiger Woods: “It’s all the time, ‘Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods.’ I am better than he is,” she said in 1997. “I’ve been on top longer and I am younger. I’m just better.”
• Hingis began her career with five straight wins over Monica Seles. After beating her 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the 1997 final in San Diego, Hingis offered her match analysis. ”I don’t know actually how I won this match,” she said. “Maybe because I always beat her.”
• “I’m not a very good morning person,” she confessed at the 1997 Roland Garros. “I’m No. 1 in the world, so I should have the right, if I’m going to play on center court, to say what time I want to play.”
• On her rivalry with good friend and doubles partner Anna Kournikova: “What rivalry?” she asked. “I win all the matches.” She holds a 11-1 head-to-head record against Kournikova.
• About her Australian Open final opponent, Amelie Mauresmo: “She’s here with her girlfriend. She is half a man.”
• About Richard Williams’ claim that the Indian Wells crowd directed racist taunts at his family in 2001: “I wasn’t there. I didn’t see the finals [between Richard's daughter Serena and Kim Clijsters], just heard about it and it was on TV,” Hingis said. “But I definitely don’t feel like there is any racism on the tour. I mean, it’s a very international sport. I even would say because, you know, they may be black they have a lot of other — how do you say — advantages to be where they are. They can always say it’s racism or something like that, and it’s not the case at all. Not from my standpoint.”
• During a coin toss, she asked arch-rival Lindsay Davenport, ”Do you want me to serve or break you?”
• About Graf's lengthy knee surgery in 1997: “If she’s going to come back,” she said of the then-27-year-old German, “for sure it’s not going to be the Steffi as she was. Her career is almost over.”
• In 2011, she was asked about then-No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. “I think I had more game than her,” she explained. “I don’t want to be cocky about this, but I think I had more [weapons]. She’s a great fighter but I outplayed [opponents] and I took the ball earlier and didn’t give them as much time. If she wants to win a Grand Slam, she’s going to have to take charge more. She doesn’t have one great weapon. You need that one little extra thing to overcome.”

One Heck of a Ride

At only 15 years and 9 months, Martina Hingis partnered with Helena Sukova to win the women's doubles title at Wimbledon in 1996. The Swiss became the youngest Grand Slam champion of all time. 

Shortly after playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, Martina pushed all-time great, Steffi Graf, to five sets in the 1996 WTA Season Ending Championships final.

A sensational sixteen years old Martina Hingis took the tennis world by storm winning her maiden Grand Slam crown at the 1997 Australian Open. The victory marked the beginning of the Hingis era, a short-lived, but exciting period.

Hingis was also a gifted doubles player. In Melbourne, she backed-up her triumph in the singles by claiming the doubles title too with partner Natasha Zvereva.

Undefeated since the beginning of the season, Martina fell to a surprise defeat to Croat Iva Majoli in the 1997 Roland Garros final.

Martina came back from a break down in the decider to deny Czech Jana Novotna in the Wimbledon final. The young Swiss was now ruling the world.

Following her Wimbledon triumph, Martina Hingis had the tennis world at her fingertips. The girl with the big attitude was winning hearts with her crafty display on-court and her outspoken attitude off-court.

The Swiss Miss capped an extraterrestrial 1997 season by collecting her third major trophy, winning the US Open following a 6-4,6-0 victory over American Venus Williams in the final.

Young Martina proved no fluke by defending her Australian Open crown. The Swiss beat experienced Spaniard Conchita Martinez in the final.

Hingis successfully defended her Australian Open double, teaming up with Croat Mirjana Lucic to retain the doubles title.

Martina turned the tables on her biggest rival, stunning Lindsay Davenport to win the 1998 WTA Championships.

In 1999 Hingis claimed her third consecutive Australian Open crown, ending the dream run of Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo.

The 1999 Roland Garros proved a decisive moment in Martina's career. Looking poised to complete a career Grand Slam, the Swiss underwent a genuine drama as she eventually fell to German legend, Steffi Graf. Hingis collapsed both mentally and physically and had to be dragged back on court by her mother and coach, Melanie Molitor.

The dream team of Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova lost the 1999 Roland Garros final to the Williams sisters. It marked another missed opportunity for the Swiss, following her dramatic collapse in the singles final.

In 1999, the Swiss reached her third consecutive US Open final, but she succumbed to the power of the opponent, American Serena Williams.

What a couple! Martina Hingis teamed up with fellow Swiss Roger Federer to win the 2001 Hopman Cup in Perth.

In 2002, the Swiss Miss came really close to breaking her Grand Slam duck at the Australian Open. Although she was 6-4,4-0 up, Martina threw away three match points to eventually succumb to American Jennifer Capriati.

Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova were fans favourite doubles team. They won two Grand Slams, both at the Australian Open, in 1999 and 2002.

In her first major since coming out of retirement, Hingis won her fifteen Slam, pairing up with Indian Mahesh Bhupathi to win the 2006 Australian Open mixed doubles crown.

Martina completed a sensational comeback in 2006 by defeating Russian Dinara Safina to win the Premier event in Rome.

Hingis won the last title of her career in 2007 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. It was Martina's 43rd WTA crown.

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The Golden 'Bryan' Slam in Pictures

The Golden brothers won the London Olympics beating Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

In the US Open final, the Bryans revenge their Australian Open final defeat to Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek.

At Melbourne, Bob and Mike won their sixth Australian Open title, beating unseeded Dutch pair Robin Haase and Igor Sjisling.

In Paris, the American greats overcame home hopes Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut 7-6 in the decider, collecting their second French Open title.

They completed the Golden 'Bryan' Slam by overcoming Croatian Ivan Dodig and Brazilian Marcelo Melo to win their third Wimbledon crown.

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The Wait Is Over! Murray Fulfils His Prophecy

With the entire nation waiting for him to win Wimbledon, Andy Murray did not always have the easiest of times playing his home Slam. After a couple of runs to the semifinals, the Scottish born Murray finally broke his duck last year when he reached the final. Despite a stunning start, he eventually succumbed to the all time great, Roger Federer. There wasn't much that a worthy Murray did wrong during that match, but the Swiss raised his game to such an extreme that he became untouchable.

Murray sucked in the excruciating pain of another missed finish and he made sure he was better prepared when the two met again, two weeks later in the Olympic final. On the same court, the Brit extracted his revenge, overcoming Federer in straight sets to win the gold medal. The victory proved a turning point in his career. A renowned choker, Andy went on to capitalize on an incredible summer by winning his first Grand Slam crown at the US Open. “Last year after the final [Ivan Lendl] told me he was proud of the way I played, because I went for it when I had chances. It was the first time I played a match in a Grand Slam final like that. I didn't doubt myself so much after last year's final. It was the best I'd recovered from a Grand Slam loss. I didn't always feel it was going to happen. It's incredibly difficult to win these events. I don't think that's that well understood sometimes. It takes so much hard work and mental toughness to win these sorts of tournaments.”

Although he lost his third Australian Open final in January, Murray is not the same player who would let a great chance slip by. After Tsonga's withdrawal and the shocking exits of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray seized an excellent opportunity to fulfil his Wimbledon prophecy. Even though his path to the final seemed extremely easy, the Brit had to endure some tough opposition. After coming back from two sets down to dismiss Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals, he recovered from a difficult start to overcome Polish Jerzy Janowicz, booking thus his seat in the grand finale.

Facing a drained Novak Djokovic for the title, Murray knew his time has finally come. He was too stronger physically for the Serb, who withstood a determined Juan Martin del Potro in an epic semifinal clash. Although Novak showed flashes of brilliance, it was not enough to stop Andy from claiming an emphatic 6-4,7-5,6-4 victory. His triumph ended Britain's 77 year wait, Murray becoming the first home grown player to win the Wimbledon men's crown since Fred Perry in 1936. “Winning Wimbledon, I think, is the pinnacle of tennis,” said the Scot. “I still can't believe it. Can't get my head around that. I can't believe it. This one will take a little while to sink in, I'm sure.”

Talking about his achievement the new grass-court king said: “For the last four or five years, it's been very, very tough, very stressful, a lot of pressure. The few days before the tournament are really difficult, as well. It's just kind of everywhere you go. It's so hard to avoid everything because of how big this event is, but also because of the history and no Brit having won. It's been very, very difficult."

With all that huge pressure lifted of his shoulders, Andy Murray will now look to take over Djokovic as the world's best player.

The Brits had to wait 77 years to see a home grown player conquer the Wimbledon men's title. Andy Murray fulfilled his prophecy, outplaying world No.1, Novak Djokovic, in three tight sets to win his second major crown.

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Mladenovic Doubles Up for France

A day after Marion Bartoli stunned Sabine Lisicki to win the Wimbledon ladies' crown, another Frenchwoman achieved her Grand Slam dream. Kristina Mladenovic, one of the hottest prospects of the young generation, teamed up with doubles legend, Canadian Daniel Nestor, to win the mixed-doubles trophy, following a nail-biting 5-7,6-2,8-6 final victory over American Lisa Raymond and Brazilian Bruno Soares.

Mladenovic has been in great form in the doubles this year, collecting three titles with three different partners: Memphis with Galina Voskoboeva, Charleston with Lucie Safarova, respectively Oeiras with Hao-Ching Chan. The Frenchwoman also finished runner-up with Daniel Nestor at the French Open, where they lost 10-4 in the super-tiebreak to Czech duo Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak. 

The victory at Wimbledon comes to revenge for their Roland Garros disappointment, but the pair had to overcome some tough challenges en route to clinching the title. They dismissed the second seeded Sania Mirza and Horia Tecau in the quarterfinal, third seeded Katarina Strebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic in the semis, and now the No.1 seeded Raymond and Soares.

I put great faith in Kristina. She has a huge game, powerful groundstrokes, booming serve, but most important, she's proven she is extremely tough mentally. With her team in danger of losing a second consecutive major final, she saved two match points on her serve to level at 6 all in the decider. The French-Canadian tandem then broke decisively in the next game, while the experienced Nestor served out a superb win to the delight of Marion Bartoli and her dad, Walter, who were cheering from the crowd.

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The Unstoppable Flying Brothers

Doubles legends, Bob and Mike Bryan, were on a mission at this year's Wimbledon. Having won the previous three Slams, as well as the Olympic gold medal in London, the twins were looking to complete the Golden 'Bryan' Slam, thus becoming the first team to hold all four majors, plus the Olympic gold at the same time.

With many of their rivals choosing to part ways at the end of last season, the Bryans found themselves unbothered as they cruised through 2013, winning eight of the eleven tournaments they've entered. While the newly formed teams are still in the process of accommodating with each other, the accomplished twins, aged 35, are completely in sync. This helped them reach some unbelievable heights throughout their career. "I think that's the reason why we've been playing so well, is because we have everything," said Bob. "Everything now feels like a bonus. It just feels like we're adding nuts and whipped cream and cherries to our great career. We said that a few years ago: if we retire today, we feel like we've done it all. Let's go have some fun and add to whatever this is."

Riding on an incredible 18-match winning streak, the Bryan brothers proved unstoppable at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. They've advanced through to the semifinals without dropping a set, withstood a tough challenge from Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Indian Rohan Bopanna, to then end the dream run of Croatian Ivan Dodig and Brazilian Marcelo Melo to clinch an historic title.

"It's hard to even dream that we'd have the slam, all four at one time," said Mike Bryan. "It all started back after we won the gold. It just felt like a huge pressure was released. Went on to win the Open and had a great summer. This year we've been on an amazing tear. Never had a streak like this. Especially at 35, I feel like we're hitting our peak.
"In the context of our career, it is probably up there at the top. I didn't think anything could feel as sweet as the gold medal, but this one just feels like there's a cap, a lid, or a ribbon around our career. It's pretty cool. It's something we never dreamed of, to try to win four in a row. It's too hard to dominate in doubles. Maybe we had a little luck involved along the way. We just took one at a time. It just added up. Now we got to try to suit back up for the calendar slam."

Next goal for the 'flying' brothers: winning all four majors in a season. They can do that by successfully defending their US Open crown. Let's go #BryanBros!

Although they lost the first five games of the final, the Bryan brothers came back strong, winning the final 3-6,6-3,6-4,6-3 to complete the Golden 'Bryan' Slam. The American twins now hold all four Grand Slam trophies, as well as the Olympic gold medal.

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Emotional Lisicki Misses out on a Great Finish

After playing an unbelievable tournament, Sabine Lisicki seemed destined to crown herself as the new Wimbledon queen. She did all the hard work already, shocking world No.1 and defending champion, Serena Williams, in the fourth round, before an epic defeat of last year's runner-up, Agnieszka Radwanska, in the semis. She needed just one more win and her dream would come true. Her opponent in the final was Marion Bartoli, a player she beat in three of their four previous meeting. It seemed an easy task, right? However, no Grand Slam final is ever easy.

The German, renowned for being an emotional player, could not really cope with the big occasion. What promised to be a day to remember, quickly turned into a nightmare, Bartoli being one point away from a total blow-out at 6-1,5-1 on Lisicki's serve. After saving three match points to hold serve, an extremely frustrated Sabine finally hit her zone. She won three consecutive games, reducing the deficit to one game. Desperate not to let her opponent get back on equal terms, the Frenchwoman hold to love to win the crown.

Tennis can be crude at times. Lisicki did everything right before this last match, but she just couldn't control her nerves. "I felt fine this morning but it's an occasion that you don't get every day," she told a news conference. "So it's something completely new for me. The walk on court is different. You walk on with the flowers. You walk on together. Everything is a little bit different. The feeling, the atmosphere is different."

Of course, all credit should go to Bartoli for producing a flawless display, but I feel like Lisicki could have won this battle if she was better prepared. Nevertheless, this is no time for regrets. The German possesses such a huge game that she just needs to be given this opportunity again. As she confessed, she will surely learn from the defeat and hopefully be ready next year. "I will learn and take away so much from it," she assured us. "I've done that in the past. Experience has always helped me so much. When I was in the quarters here the first time, when I was in the semis for the first time, and now in the final for the first time. I've always gained my experience here, which is good. I hope that next time it will help me to do that one step further."

Despite the painful loss, Lisicki tried to remain positive and look at what a sensational run she's had these past two weeks. "It's still been a great tournament," she said. "It's been an amazing two weeks. I've played my best tennis here. I had to take out the champion and runner-up from last year, so I think that's pretty big. This tournament definitely made me a better player." Sabine loves grass and she always did great at Wimbledon, so I do expect her to win this title one day. As Marion said "I'm sure you will be there one more time. I have no doubt about it."

Although she was hot favourite to become the new Wimbledon queen, Sabine Lisicki could not cope with the pressure. The German was unable to respond to the inspired display of Marion Bartoli, losing her first Grand Slam final 1-6,4-6.

During the on court interview, the emotional Lisicki declared her love for Wimbledon and vowed to come back next year and try to win the title.

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The Triumph of the Wonder Woman

Probably no one gave her a chance at the beginning of the tournament, but Marion Bartoli has always felt inspired on the grass-courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. She may have not advanced past the quarterfinals so far this year, but when she saw the draw open nicely for her, she knew she was given the chance of a lifetime. And she went for it.

If all the top names fell in the early rounds, Marion kept her focus and cruised through to the quarterfinals without dropping a set. A tough test followed, but the Frenchwoman showed incredible mental strength to dismiss teen sensation Sloane Stephens 6-4,7-5 to reach her second Wimbledon semifinal. She may not be the ultimate athlete, but Bartoli is one of the smartest women on the tour. Playing a smart mental game, she put an end to Kirsten Flipkens' dream run, stunning the Belgian 6-1,6-2 to book her place in the grand finale against big-hitting German, Sabine Lisicki. 

Although I rooted for Bartoli, I admit I was certain the German would prevail. Sabine showed such great fight the entire tournament, shocking world No.1 and defending champion, Serena Williams, and last year's runner-up, Agnieszka Radwanska, to reach her maiden Grand Slam final. However, Marion has been in this situation before and the experience helped her prepare mentally for the challenge. Although her opponent held a 3-1 head-to-head record against her, the Frenchwoman seized the opportunity and was determined not to let it go. While Lisicki could not handle the emotions, Bartoli was all pumped up and ready to achieve her dream. She played flawless tennis to go 6-1,5-1 up and although she missed three match points to allow the German to close the gap, she cold-bloodedly served out the match to clinch her maiden major title. "Honestly I still can't believe it," she beamed. "I've dreamed about this moment for so long. For me, winning Wimbledon is beyond my wildest dreams, let alone with an ace - but I've been practicing my serve for so long, I guess I saved it for the best moment! I'm so happy to be holding this trophy. This has been my dream since I was six years old."
"I honestly just can't believe it," she added. "I feel like I'm going to wake up and none of this will have happened. I was just really focused on every single point out there. I saw the finish line at 5-1 but then she started playing so well - but to finish it with an ace is just amazing. I'm so happy right now."

The peculiar Frenchwoman may not be everyone's cup of tea, but she's certainly one of my favourite players. I think what she does on the court is so special, that she sometimes is not given the respect she deserves. It is just amazing that Marion is now a Grand Slam winner. Surreal even. It was a shock when she beat the dominant Justine Henin to make the 2007 final, but she needed today's win to prove everyone what a great champion she is. No matter what happens next, no one can take this win from her. She is the new Wimbledon queen and she did it without dropping a set. Wow, what an amazing achievement. Congrats Marion, you fully deserve this!

An extremely joyful Marion celebrated her triumph with her camp: new coach, Amelie Mauresmo, father, doctor Walter Bartoli, as well as compatriot, Kristina Mladenovic.

After losing the 2007 final to Venus Williams, Marion Bartoli was determined not to let another chance slip by. The Frenchwoman controlled the match throughout, closing out Sabine Lisicki 6-1,6-4 to win her maiden Grand Slam crown.

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