Martina Hingis
Born on September 30, 1980 in Kosice, Slovakia
(Named after tennis great Martina Navratilova)
Facts
Home : Trubbach, Switzerland
Height : 5'7"
Weight : 130 lbs.
Plays : Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro : October 14, 1994
Parents : Melanie Molitor (also her coach) and Karol
Hingis (divorced)
Favorites
Sports to Watch : Basketball and soccer
Sports to Play : Horseback riding and skiing
Athlete : Alpine ski racer Alberto Tomba of Italy and
Chicago Bulls player Dennis Rodman
Food : Sushi
Color : Black
Number : 3
Actress : Julia Roberts
Actor : Tom Hanks
Movie(s) : Forrest Gump and Sabrina
Singers : Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette
Song : Without You
Play : Miss Saigon
Place : Paris, France
Season : Summer
Superstition : Don't walk on the lines of a tennis court
Article of Clothing : Short skirts
Animal : Horse
Secret Ambition : To become a star horseback rider in jumping
On Martina...
"She has the talent more than everybody and she has an unbelievable, you know, how
the way she is thinking and, if you watch her, she is not moving on the court but she's
all the time in the right position."
--Irina Spirlea
"She won't hit hard, then -- bang! -- she'll drive one into an opening from the base
or maybe squeeze you with a touch drop-shot. She's supposed to not have a damaging serve,
but look at the aces she hits on key points. If she gets complacent, she just gets mad at
herself and starts slashing away and everything seems to go in. If she's losing, she lifts
her level like no other player I can remember."
--Chris Evert
"I've never seen such a young girl value point the way Martina does. She's in such
control. She's never out of a match. It's like she's thinking, 'If I do this and that and
this, there's no reason I can't win every single point.' And she actually believes
it."
--Pam Shriver
"She talks to everybody, she's nice to everybody. Yes, I mean, of course she has a
lot of confidence. She's the No. 1 player in the world. I think, without that attitude,
maybe she wouldn't get so far. But she talks to everybody. It's like she's one of the
players."
--Sabine Appelmans
"I don't know what I would choose. I have many interests, like horseback riding,
skiing and soccer - but who knows?"
--Martina on what would her
career aim be if she wasn't a professional tennis player.
"I remember that he was very nice and that I liked him, but if he were the right one
for my mother and me, he'd still be with us."
--Martina on her father.
"I can't imagine traveling around with these players and not talking and joking and
having fun with all of them. We are a big family, too."
--Martina on her feelings with
the rest of the players in the tour.
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