Multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis has praised former player Anna Kournikova during an interview with Russian sports website R-Sport.
The Swiss player is currently participating in the St. Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy alongside doubles partner Sania Mirza. During her time in Russia, Hingis spoke about Kournikova and Maria Sharapova. She was asked to compare the two women, however, the 35-year-old insisted that this can’t be done.
“They cannot be compared. Anna was one of a kind, unique”. Hingis told R-Sport.
“She was one of the first who was not just a tennis player, but as a tennis player and a model. Her photos have appeared in fashion magazines. She opened her example to a whole generation of Russian tennis players”.
Despite never winning a Grand Slam title, Kournikova was a household name on the tour due to her publicity both on and off the court. At the age of 15 she shot to the media limelight after reaching the semifinals of the 1997 Wimbledon Championships (the best Grand Slam performance of her entire career). Reaching a career high of 8th in 2000, Kournikova never won a singles title on the WTA tour. She enjoyed better fortune in the doubles with two Grand Slam titles with Hingis at the Australian Open (1999 and 2002). 11 out of Kournikova’s 16 doubles titles was won with Hingis.
Hingis also spoke briefly about Sharapova, a player who she played three times in 2006. The world No.1 doubles player said that Sharapova was a follower of the former Russian player (Kournikova became an American citizen in 2010).
“She was a follower. For the rest of the Russians it was great that Anna gave them that opportunity, because many wanted to be like Kournikova”. Hingis said.
The 35-year-old also talked about her upcoming Olympic tournament with Roger Federer. Hingis said that she was asked by Federer in 2012 to play in the London Olympics with him, but she declined due to lack of match play. This year she decided to return the favor.
“Four years have passed since Roger’s request, and I decided to return to him this question, ask it to him. So I said, if you decide to play mixed at the Olympics this time, I’d be happy to do it with you. And I am very pleased that he has agreed”. Hingis said.
“I played with him in the Hopman Cup in 2001. There were wonderful memories, when we became champions and won the Hopman Cup for Switzerland. I hope that we can bring home a medal from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro”. She later added.
This week Hingis and Mirza have won their first round match against Jelena Ostapenko and Evgeniya Rodina to claim their 37th straight win on the doubles tour. The pair are just eight wins away from equaling the all-time record set by Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova back in 1990.
