Tennis: Hingis is on ASB hit list

Martina Hingis. Picture / Reuters

ASB Classic organisers are hoping to tempt former world No 1 Martina Hingis to January's event after the "Swiss miss" last week announced her return to top-level tennis.

The 25-year-old winner of five grand slam titles and more than US$18 million in prize-money announced her retirement in 2002 after succumbing to a series of foot injuries.

Although she still has problems with her feet, she's keen to win her way back to the top and has already been promised a wild-card entry into the Australian Open. If she did play in Melbourne, she would need to play one of the warm-up tournaments in the lead-up to the first grand slam event of the year, bringing the ASB Classic into play.

Tournament director Richard Palmer said that while he wasn't holding his breath, he wouldn't be doing his job properly if he didn't try to lure Hingis here. She would probably be handed a wild-card entry, with the other one already given to New Zealand's Marina Erakovic.

However, an event is held on the Gold Coast in the same week as Auckland, with tournaments in Sydney, Canberra and Hobart the following week before the start of the Australian Open on January 16.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY