Roger Federer discloses plans to team up with Martina Hingis at the 2012 Olympics – Tennis News
Sixteen time grand Slam winner, Roger Federer disclosed his plans of wooing Martina Hingis to a possible dream pairing of a 2012 Olympics mixed doubles competition held in London. Federer, who has never won a singles gold medal
at the Olympics, won the men’s doubles gold with Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Showing his interest in the 2012 Olympics, the Swiss maestro wanted to touch base with his compatriot and former world number 1 and the five time grand slam winner, Martina Hingis.
The Fed express also expressed his concern over whether it was realistic for him to play all the three events – singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the 2012 Olympics. On the contrary, ‘Miss Swiss’ has shown no apparent signs
of her comeback and neither has she fuelled the fire.
Federer had approached Martina previously and was of the opinion that she might reconsider or think about it but he said he hadn’t spoken to her and was unsure what the outcome will be. Even if Federer does initiate a call with
Martina he would first need to decide whether he will be paying the singles, doubles and the mixed doubles event. The two had won the doubles event at the Hopman Cup in 2001 and have practiced and played with each other before.
There is no doubt that Roger would like to pair with anyone else at the mixed doubles event other than Hingis as he said, “If I played mixed with anybody it would be with Hingis just because she's been an amazing player and I
had my first kind of success at the Hopman Cup with her ”.
However, ‘Miss Swiss’ would need to complete a few rules and regulations that include getting back on tour for a minimum of three months before the Olympic selection in order to allow anti-doping authorities for practice detailed
tests on her.
She will also have to play at the Fed Cup 2012 as another requirement and a petition would be filed to the International Olympic Committee to secure entry for Hingis, who would not have played Fed Cup enough times during the required
timeframe.
In 2002 Hingis had to withdraw from professional tennis due to a ligament injury in both ankles, she later rejoined in 2006 and climbed to world number six and won three grand slam titles. However, after testing positive for cocaine
in 2007 she officially announced her retirement. Nevertheless, Martina Hingis is a laureate in tennis history and has also won many accolades. The former world number one, Martina Hingis has a great track record of bagging doubles grand slams titles; she
has won 9 doubles grand slam tournaments. In June 2011, by Times, she was named one of the ‘30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future’.
Tags: