Friday, February 24, 2006
Hingis is Back, But is She Really?
Hello, everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. Life sometimes overtakes you, and before you know it, you are lost and have a hard time finding your way back. Well, I'm happy to report I'm back.
Last time we spoke, I gave you some perspectives on some of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players. I was planning on giving you some more, but time and space just didn't make it. My apologies to Jelena Jankovic and Mashona Washington. I appreciate your kind responses and wish I could have turned them into something wonderful. I will keep an eye on you all season and promise you will make it into this column sometime in 2006.
Speaking of the WTA Tour, my favorite player, and clearly the story of the year so far, is Martina Hingis. Yes, Amelie Mauresmo has been on a tear, just winning everything in site, and she does now have a major win under her belt. But clearly, Martina's quick rise in the rankings and her consistent appearances in quarters, semis, and finals already show that she can play on the tour. I suspect she will win a tournament or two very soon.
Hingis proclaimed in Dubai this week, "it is not a comeback anymore." Martina made this statement following her 6-4, 6-3 beating of Anastasia Myskina in the early rounds of the tournament. Hingis sliced and diced Myskina up, showing that she can handle all the power and that she still has the cunning and skills to beat any of the top players. After all the hype, after all the discussion about how the power now would overwhelm Hingis in her return, Hingis has shown them all wrong.
Yes, there have been moments, like her defeat at the hands of Elena Dementieva a few weeks ago, that seem to support the claim. (I still can't believe that Hingis lost to the only woman on tour in the top 25 who has a weaker serve than herself.) I'm going to chalk that up to nerves and her lack of matches. Dementieva can certainly be devastating when her groundies are humming, and her two major final appearances show that she has enough game to be dangerous. All that said, she still should not have been any match for Martina.
There are no top tour players who are consistent. If you watch the matches, if you break the games down, you will find that most of the losses on tour come when players commit way too many unforced errors. Even Mauresmo, who is more consistent than most, loses more matches by unforced errors than just by getting beaten by someone clearly better on any given day. Which, of course, is why Hingis should be cleaning up even more than she is. With injuries always looming, Hingis' physical and mental consistency should have her just running through these draws to the finals. Mary Pierce basically ruled last year, and Hingis has more game. Lindsay Davenport ruled the past two years, and Hingis has more variety and better skills.
So why then, why isn't she number one already? Simple. She doesn't have the fire in the belly. She no longer has the desire. Her tennis has passion, but isn't passionate. It's clear to see that Martina is back in a serious way. She still gives her best every day. She fights as hard or harder than them all, but it is clear that she has matured. Hingis will take being the semifinalist or finalist now. You will never see outbursts like her fateful French Open loss that time when she sulked and cried after losing. You won't see it, because Martina is willing to accept less than number one.
I'm not sure how I feel about that, or if it really matters. I just know it is the way things are. I hope Martina realizes this soon, as well. Martina, remember, while it is always fun to be the bridesmaid, the one who has the most fun is, of course, the bride.