Roger Federer has praised compatriot Martina Hingis for helping show him the way to grand slam glory on the same day she announced her retirement.
37-year-old Hingis confirmed on Thursday that this week’s WTA Finals will be her final tournament before she hangs up her racket. Hingis has previously retired twice before. At the age of 22 she stepped away from the sport for two years due in injuries. Then in 2007 she retired for the second time after being handed a two-year suspension for a positive drugs test.
“Now that the cat is out of the bag, here we are for the third, and final time.” Hingis wrote on Facebook.
“Looking back now, it’s hard to believe that almost exactly 23 years ago I made my professional debut. The years that followed have been some of the most rewarding years of my life, both personally and professionally, but I believe the time has come for me to retire, which I will be doing after my last match here in Singapore.”
Hingis was the darling of Swiss tennis before Federer. Winning five grand slam titles during the late 1990s. In 1997 she became the youngest world No.1 and stayed in that position for 80 consecutive weeks before getting sidelined with injury. Together Federer and Hingis won the 2001 Hopman Cup.
“I loved seeing her play in the last couple of months in doubles, her matches were just beautiful to watch,” Federer told reporters in Basel. “Martina has a huge passion for our sport. Future life remains tied to tennis, I’m almost impatient to know what she’s going to do now.”
The 19-time grand slam champion revealed that he had knowledge of the retirement. Saying that he heard about it at the start of the year and again last week. Federer also links to Hingis to his own success in the majors. Saying that she showed him how it was done.
“Martina was partially the one who showed me how it was all done,” he said.
“It was great for Switzerland to have someone of her calibre. We were very lucky. I loved playing with her at the Hopman Cup, she was always super friendly, I love that about her.”
A fan for life
Federer’s affection for his fellow countrywoman is one that shows no signs of diminishing. Hingis’ career concludes with 25 grand slam titles (13 doubles, seven mixed and five singles trophies). Overall, she has won more than 60 WTA titles in both singles (68) and doubles (86) prior to Singapore.
“I’m not sad to see her retire, she’s been in the game for long enough, she seems at peace with her decision — that’s wonderful. I’ve always been a fan of her and I always will be.”
This week Federer is playing at the Swiss Open in Basel. He reached his 15th quarter-final at the event earlier today following a 6-3, 6-1, win over France’s Benoit Paire.