From the official WTA page:
http://www.wtatour.com/index.cfm?section=m...&cont_id=114268

From ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/tennis/news/2002/0712/1405074.html

Martina may really struggle back from this whole thing. It was a very serious procedure they did, and she has a long way to go.

I read an article on her a few weeks ago in SI. Interestingly enough, she is not very motivated by her tennis. Her mother commented that she always feared that Martina would be easily distracted. Now with her golfer boyfriend, fashion shoots, and the sort, her tennis does not always get much priority.

That SI article was great. I thought Price did a helluva job with it (and the Marilyn picture was too much.)

I think Martina is quite happy being away from tennis. I'm sure she wants to get back, but I also think that she's not exactly chomping at the bit either.

But if she comes back next year... she may have some terrible luck in the draws. She's going to be losing massive points. Out of the top ten.

Martina now says she may still play the Open, despite the WTA's contentions to the contrary. From ESPN.com:

[quote] Martina Hingis says she could still play in next month's U.S. Open despite the WTA confirming she will miss Monday's entry deadline.

The WTA said Friday that representatives of Hingis had confirmed the former world No. 1 would not be submitting an application to play in the final Grand Slam of the year by the July 15 deadline.

Hingis, who won the U.S. Open in 1997, is recovering from a troublesome left ankle injury but said she could play at Flushing Meadows thanks to an invitation if she is declared fit for the tournament, which starts on Aug. 26.

"I've chosen to leave things alone because I don't want to set a fixed date for my return to competitive tennis," Hingis told Swiss Sunday newspaper Sonntags Zeitung.

"But the possibility that I can play in Flushing Meadows is realistic enough. I still have over five weeks for preparation and surely there is a possibility I can play in New York."

Hingis' injury has kept her out of the French Open and Wimbledon and she has also pulled out of a number of tournaments leading up to the U.S. Open.

"The recovery of my ankle injury is going satisfactorily and I can more or less play tennis twice a day," Hingis said.

Hingis has won five Grand Slam titles and reached the final of the Australian Open earlier this year, but lost to defending champion Jennifer Capriati.

---

As much as I would love to have Hingis back (seriously, I would), I'd hate her to rush a recovery. It is exciting news to hear that she's been practicing and playing and is looking forward to returning. I'm both anxious and eager to see how well she's able hang with the Top 10.

welcome back, martina!

Another article on Hingis...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/ne...ngis_return_ap/

AND another article...


from NY Times website:

July 18, 2002
Hurt Hingis May Return for U.S. Open
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 10:50 a.m. ET

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Martina Hingis is training three or four hours a day and might try to return to action at the U.S. Open, a Swiss newspaper reported Thursday.

The five-time major champion has been sidelined since ankle surgery in Zurich on May 20. She missed the French Open and Wimbledon -- the first Grand Slam events Hingis has skipped since she turned pro in 1994.

Hingis' ankle is somewhat swollen, but in addition to her tennis practice, she's also bicycling, swimming and roller blading.

``I have to be a little careful not to put too much stress on it,'' Hingis told daily newspaper Blick.

The court she's been practicing on in Saddlebrook, Fla., is covered by a soft, rubberized surface to ease the impact on her ankle. Next week, she plans to start working on a hard court, the newspaper said.

Hingis' adviser, Mario Widmer, reportedly has said she still could enter the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 26.

The 21-year-old Hingis, who won the U.S. Open in 1997, missed Monday's entry deadline, but she still could receive a wild card from tournament organizers.

Man, that's a rotten position for the US Open organizers to be in... waiting for Martina Hingis to decide. I totally understand, but what if Martina Navratilova is mulling a return (which she's prob. not, but...)

What if Kournikova ends up needing the wild card? Just seems like a risky gambit on Martina's part. I mean, I'm sure they'll hold one for her. Hell, I would. Just seems like a big risk to take!

The US OPEN will give a wild card to Hingis b4 they do Navratilova or Kournikova, Hingis does have a chance at winning!

No doubt they will give Martina a wild card over Kournikova etc.

Sergio thinks that she will play.

I would certainly hope so! It would be pretty pathetic to have Hingis slogging her way through the qualies while Anna breezed in on a wild card.