Martina Hingis is undaunted at having to play former world tennis No 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne in the first round of the Sydney International today.
Hingis, who retired in 2002 with ankle and foot injuries, made her return to competitive tennis last week at the Australian hardcourt championships on the Gold Coast.
The 25-year-old Swiss, herself a former top-ranked player, made the semifinals before losing to Italian Flavia Pennetta in three sets and sustaining a hip injury in the process.
"Win or lose, Melbourne [Australian Open] is the main tournament, so it's going to be a match just like any other," Hingis said of her first-round encounter with the Belgian world No 8.
"I'll just try to get the best out of it and just get ready for Melbourne.
"I think generally it's easier to play somebody like this first round than later in the draw ... Sooner or later I have to play a top 10 player, better sooner than later.
"Win or lose, then you know where you're at.
"You have another week to train or practice."
Hingis played Henin-Hardenne twice in 2000, when the Belgian was still making her way through the ranks, with the Swiss holding the advantage 2-0, and she refused to rule out her chances after three years out of the game.
Tennis: Hingis unfazed by Belgian star
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