Former world number one Martina Hingis will return to professional tennis next year more than three years since retiring from the sport.
The 25-year-old Swiss star quit at the end of 2002 after a series of recurring injury problems.
But she said in a statement on Tuesday: "I was never happy my injuries cut my career short and ultimately forced my decision to step away from tennis.
"I've enjoyed my time away - it's let me experience a new side of life."
She added: "I miss the game and the challenge of competing at the highest level of tennis, and I want to gauge whether I can stay healthy and compete against today's top players."
Hingis, who won a total of five Grand Slam titles during her career, made an earlier unsuccessful attempt to return to the circuit last February.
She was eliminated 1-6 6-2 6-2 from the first round of the low level WTA Pattaya tournament by German Marlene Weingartner.
Hingis has won 76 career singles and doubles titles and became the youngest world number won at 16½.
She captured her first of 40 WTA singles titles at Filderstadt in 1996 and claimed her first major crown a few months later at the 1997 Australian Open.
More Grand Slam titles followed that year with success at Wimbledon and the US Open
She defended her Australian Open crown in 1998 and won her third in a row at Melbourne in 1999.
"Martina Hingis is one of the game's great champions and unique personalities," said WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott.
"Martina is looking forward to the challenge of playing a competitive schedule of events.
"Martina's return will add another level of excitement to the sport and enhance the incredible rivalries and roster of big-name stars."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4482974.stm
瑞士前女網球后辛吉絲將於2006年再度復出
【法新社 王思捷】
(法新社蘇黎世二十九日電) 曾為世界排名第一的瑞士女網名將辛吉絲透過經紀公司Octago表示,她將於明年球季重返WTA職業女網,女子網壇為之震驚。
二十五歲的辛吉絲曾經五度獲得大滿貫單打冠軍,她在二00二年十月因傷宣佈退休,今年二月間一度復出,但旋即中止。
辛吉絲原因左踝嚴重傷勢而被迫退休,但她在聲明中表示,已經準備好再度復出。
她說:「對於因傷提前中止職業生涯,被迫離開網球,我從不曾感到開心。」
「我很享受網球場外的時光,讓我有時間體會到人生的另一面。
然而我思念網球,也思念挑戰網球最高境界的感受。
我想知道,自己是否仍能維持健康,和目前的網壇高手同台競技。」
今年二月的短暫復出,她在巴達雅的WTA女網賽首輪,以六比一、二比六、二比六敗給德國的溫特加娜。
辛吉絲職業生涯贏得七十六座單、雙打冠軍盃,十六歲半就成為女網史上最年輕的球后。
她在生涯獎金榜上名列第三,僅次於德國傳奇球星葛拉芙和美國的娜拉提洛娃。
在一九九六年美網賽和二00二年的印第安泉網賽間,辛吉絲參加一百一十八項賽事,有一百零四次打進決賽。
生涯獲得四十座單打冠軍的辛吉絲,於一九九六年首次拿下女單冠軍。
幾個月後,她就在澳網賽初嘗大滿貫金盃滋味。
隨後她曾獲一九九七年溫布頓和美網賽冠軍,一九九七年就拿下十二座冠軍。
她在一九九八年澳網賽衛冕成功,一九九九年更寫下三連霸佳績。
美國威廉絲姐妹的崛起和擾人傷勢,使辛吉絲自一九九九年澳網賽之後,未能再添任何大滿貫金盃。
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/051130/215/2l5rc.html
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