Revitalised Hingis looks ahead French Open

LONDON, May 24: Perhaps more than any other tournament, the French Open offers former world number one Martina Hingis the chance to make up for past shortcomings.

The 25-year-old Swiss, back after a three-year break from the game, never won the claycourt grand slam during her period of dominance in women's tennis at the end of the 1990s.

Her experiences of Roland Garros have always been tinged with disappointment, and on one notable occasion, tears and a temper tantrum.

The latter occurred in 1999 when she stormed off in a huff after losing to Steffi Graf 4-6 7-5 6-2 in the final.

Hingis broke tennis etiquette by crossing the net to complain about a line call, served underarm on match point and had to be coaxed back on to the court by her mother for the trophy presentation.

Despite not having won the singles title, however, Hingis's record at Roland Garros is no cause for shame.

In her last five French Open appearances she reached the semi-finals three times and the final twice.

She would dearly love to fill that remaining gap in her trophy cabinet, although Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday, may have come just a little too soon for her.

However, last weekend's victory at the Italian Open, Hingis's first title since she returned to the tour, showed that she might yet pull it off.

Hingis has now won 31 matches this year, second only on the tour to Russian Nadia Petrova with 33. Rome was the five-time grand slam winner's 41st WTA title and she has risen from 349 in the rankings in January to 14 now.

''So far I've been playing very good tennis and I'm getting better every match,'' she said. ''My game is almost up there with when I was number one in the world but there are still some improvements to make.''

Her resurgence has won her some prestigious admirers, not least compatriot and men's world number one Roger Federer.

''I'm very impressed. Here she is, (in the) top 15 after five months. She breaks all the records she sets herself. She doesn't just say, she does it too,'' Federer said at the Laureus awards this week. Hingis's return was named comeback of the year.

The perceived wisdom is that Hingis departed the scene once it became clear she was struggling to live with the new breed of power-hitters in women's tennis, led by the Williams sisters Venus and Serena.

On her return this year, her lack of a powerful serve was highlighted as a lingering weakness.

The Swiss has, however, challenged that theory by reaching the quarter-finals or better in eight of the 11 tournaments she has contested this year, as well as claiming notable wins over Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Venus Williams.

''Playing tournaments and gaining more respect from the players and winning matches, it showed that I still had some game,'' said Hingis.

''Now with winning this event (in Rome), I know that I can do it again. Now I did it, so the confidence is on my side. I feel I definitely have it in me.'' REUTERS