WTA players support Tsunami victims.

Martina Hingis, who played her last official match in Pattaya in the first week of February, said she was amazed after seeing the devastation of the Tsunami disaster. She also thought it was beautiful to see so much solidarity.

The former No.1 went to see the aftermath of the Tsunami in Phuket, “I was not the only one who was crying there”. She had found a good reason to play exhibitions and collect money for the victims. “Playing exhibition matches are always my decision and this time it's for a good cause”, she said about playing exhibitions around the globe. 

Hingis said she would always be involved with tennis in one way or the other. “That is what I can do best, tennis is my life. Horse jumping is my passion and I am not good enough at it”. Apart from playing exhibition matches she will also be working for her sponsors, being a commentator for television networks and practicing with kids at her mums’ tennisclub in Wollerau, which is close to her hometown Hurden.

In her exhibition match against the other former number one of the world, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Hingis showed she still wants to win. She plainly won 8-5, always leading her opponent of the day. Although the speedometer never registered a faster service then 140 Km Hingis showed her on court skills are still ok. 

“I don’t rush things, I am not even 25 yet, I do no more study at the moment. I finished my English advanced and my German. So there is still time enough,” she said. “I don’t have plans to play another tournament yet”.

“I always loved to travel and the competition but it is not always easy to play the semi’s and the finals. The operations were a setback and my height is not are not a big advantage nowadays. When you see the girls now it looks like there is a volleyball or basketball team arriving. My physical condition is not what it used to be. I am not 18 anymore. Speed alone doesn’t count anymore; you also need strength and endurance. Tennis has changed, it all comes down to power nowadays”.

“The difference between playing exhibitions like these and the match in Pattaya is that this was not as stressful. If playing competition were like this I would be working on my comeback. I realized in Pattaya that it was not that easy”.

She ended the meeting by telling her luggage had not yet arrived and got lost between Switzerland and Belgium. The only thing she could wear was the outfit that is going to be sold. She said she luckily changed into her tennis gear on the plane and had her shoes with her; otherwise she would not even have proper shoes and an outfit to play the exhibition in. She also made clear that she had found something to cover herself up for her return flight. She possible still likes to tease the press as well.

At the end of the auction the bids for Martina’s outfit and racket had stopped at 3050 Euros for the orphanage project supported by Kim Clijsters, who is the godmother of the initiative to sell rackets and outfits of various players during the Proximus Diamond Games. The tournament organization has promised to double the bids for all sold items.