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LONDON -- Switzerland's Martina Hingis indicated on Friday that she would
likely not be returning to top-flight tennis. Here's a look at her career:
Born: September 30, 1980, in Slovakia.
Turned professional: October 1994.
1996
Becomes youngest Wimbledon champion at 15 by winning
women's doubles title with Helena Sukova in July.
Wins first WTA titles in Filderstadt and Oakland, which help
her to finish the year ranked fourth.
1997
Becomes youngest Grand Slam singles champion in 20th
century by winning Australian Open at aged 16 in January. Also wins
Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns.
First player since Steffi Graf in 1993 to reach finals of
all four Grand Slams.
In March, becomes youngest player to be world No. 1.
1998
Wins second Australian open title in January.
Becomes fourth woman to achieve doubles Grand Slam after
winning all four major titles (Australian Open with Mirjana
Lucic; French Open/Wimbledon/U.S. Open with Jana Novotna).
Lost No. 1 ranking after 80 consecutive weeks when she
was forced to withdraw from Zurich event with sprained left
ankle.
1999
Wins third successive Australian Open title.
Reclaims No. 1 ranking but loses French Open final
despite coming within three points of winning her first
clay-court Grand Slam title.
Having lost to Graf, Hingis is jeered by the Roland Garros
crowd after leaving the court in tears before the awards
ceremony. A distraught Hingis is eventually coaxed back on court
by her mother and coach Melanie Molitor to complete the
formalities.
Two weeks later, Hingis suffers a first-round loss at
Wimbledon to a then unknown 129th ranked qualifier Jelena Dokic.
2000
Finishes the year as No. 1 for the third time in
four years after winning nine titles.
Withdraws from Rome with aggravated inflammation of a bone
in left foot.
Wins eighth Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open with
Mary Pierce.
2001
Is a shock first-round loser at Wimbledon for second
time in three years.
Loses No. 1 ranking after tearing ankle ligaments
during Filderstadt semi-final against Lindsay Davenport.
Injury brings season to an abrupt end as Hingis undergoes
surgery in October.
2002
Loses Australian Open final to Jennifer Capriati
despite holding four match points.
Pulls out of German and Italian Opens in May and undergoes
tests in Zurich for joint damage in her foot, knee and hips.
Undergoes surgery on her left ankle. Misses Wimbledon.
In August, returns at Canadian Open.
In September, knocked out of U.S. Open by Monica Seles in
fourth round.
On Oct. 10, loses in Filderstadt second round 6-3, 6-1 to
Russia's Elena Dementieva.
On Oct. 11, announces she will take an indefinite break from
the game.
2003
Rules out a return to top flight tennis on Feb. 7,
saying it would be "unimaginable." Aged 22, the Swiss says she
will instead concentrate on perfecting her English and finally
enjoying the financial fruits of her prodigious talent.
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