Wimbledon serves as the Grand Slam bookend to Martina Hingis' professional career: she captured the 1997 Wimbledon title to become the youngest singles champion at the grass-court Grand Slam in the Open Era and a decade later she tested positive for cocaine after a third-round Wimbledon loss that eventually led to the conclusion of her professional career.
The five-time Grand Slam champion will be back on British grass this June as Hingis has signed on to play the 2008 Liverpool International Tennis Tournament — an exhibition event — at Calderstones Park.
Hingis, who beat Jana Novotna in the '97 Wimbledon final to become the youngest champion in the Open Era at 16 years, 9 months and 5 days and the youngest-ever Wimbledon singles winner since Liverpudlian Lottie Dodd in 1887, will be part of the legends lineup and will play her matches on June 13, 14 and 15.
"I have heard a lot about Liverpool over the years and all the fine work they have done up there to develop tennis in a region that is mostly famous for football," Hingis said in a statement. "I am very much looking forward to playing the event and to seeing what's on offer in the European capital of culture."
In January, Hingis' appeal of her positive test was denied. The former World No. 1 was banned from tennis for two years and ordered to repay $129,481 in prize money for committing a doping offense by testing positive for cocaine at the 2007 Wimbledon.
An independent, three-member anti-doping tribunal ruled that a urine sample provided by Hingis on June 29, 2007 contained cocaine and its metabolites. Hingis submitted the sample after suffering a 6-4, 6-2, loss to 77th-ranked Laura Granville in the third round of the grass-court Grand Slam.
Following a two-day hearing in December, the tribunal "rejected the suggestion made on behalf of Ms. Hingis that there were doubts about the identity and/or integrity of the sample attributed to her. It therefore found that she had committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Program (presence of a Prohibited Substance in player’s sample)," the ITF announced.
The tribunal rejected the two primary components of Hingis' defense: her legal team claimed either the tainted sample was not hers or that the cocaine may have entered her system when a spiked fruit drink she consumed was dosed with the drug.
At age 27, Hingis, who announced her retirement at a November press conference, will likely pursue an immediate future as an exhibition player as well as possibly return to the broadcast booth as an analyst.
At a Liverpool press conference today, tournament director Anders Borg announced reigning Liverpool champions Ashley Harkleroad and Xavier Malisse will return to defend their titles. Former Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and Goran Ivanisevic are scheduled to play the legends event.
"It's a great boost for us to have Martina playing in Liverpool," Borg said. "Her attitude on and outside court has always been superb. She still has a lot to offer the world of tennis and we are just very pleased we can take advantage of that."
In the men's tournament, Argentina's Jose Acasuso is also scheduled to compete.
The tournament is also continuing its youth policy, promising that more than 5,000 children will watch and receive coaching during the week.
For more information please visit www.liverpooltennis.co.uk
