Hingis returns to action amidst high hopes

FILDERSTADT (Germany), OCT 1: Swiss tennis ace Martina Hingis, who chose not to take part in the Sydney Olympics, returns to action for th...

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FILDERSTADT (Germany), OCT 1: Swiss tennis ace Martina Hingis, who chose not to take part in the Sydney Olympics, returns to action for the first time since the US Open as top seed at the WTA Grand Prix which kicks off here on Monday.

The $ 535,000 event could see Hingis meeting Spainiard Conchita Martinez in next Sunday’s final.

Two years ago, Martinez failed to gain a seeding despite being ranked 10 in the world, such was the strength of the field.

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This year, the Olympics has caused an event in Tokyo to be scheduled against Filderstadt, but the strength of the tournament continues.

Hingis and Martinez are backed up by Nathalie Tauziat, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Amanda Coetzer, Anna Kournikova, Chanda Rubin and Dominique van Roost.

While the top four seeds have a bye into the second round Kournikova may not even reach the second round.

Still seeking her first career title after failing to take advantage of a golden opportunity in Luxembourg this past week, she is drawn to face one of the up and coming stars of the game, Kim Clijsters.

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The 17-year-old from Belgium will be cheered on by her boyfriend, Australian star LLeyton Hewitt, who is with her this week. Rubin also might not get past the first round. She’s has deal with the challenge of an in-form Jennifer Capriati, who beat Kournikova in the Luxembourg semi-finals.

And another in-form player who could pose a danger to Martinez in the second round is Magdalena Maleeva, who was once ranked four in the world and is fighting her way back after a serious shoulder injury.

Maleeva though, first has to get past Belgium’s Sabine Appelmans, while Coetzer should progress at the expense of Croatia’s Silvija Talaja.