By Chris Davies
February 7 2003

Switzerlands Martina Hingis, 22, announced that she has no future plans for a comeback to the tour due to her persistent ankle injury. Martina Hings said in the French newspaper L'Equipe that her niggling ankle problems mean that she will have to quit top-flight tennis.

"A return to competition is unforeseeable, and I have no plans to ever return," Hingis told French sports newspaper L'Equipe.

"It's over for me but life goes on. I am not capable anymore of doing what's needed to be done to stay at the top.

"I have been at the top for long enough to know exactly what is required, and I am incapable of it
"When you have been world number one for four years you cannot content yourself with less.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me - I have a great life. Even without competition, I am happy.

"I am 22 and my whole life is ahead of me. What I am experiencing is nothing dramatic. The only thing I cannot do anymore is remain competitive."
But Hingis did leave open a small possibility of a return to the circuit sometime in the future.

"I am not coming back - not for now anyway - that is sure and definite."

Richard Williams, the father and coach of Serena and Venus Williams, the sisters who currently dominate women's tennis, said the sport would miss Hingis.

"Martina Hingis is one of the greatest champions ever to play the sport," he said.

"To do the things she did at such an early age, I don't think it will ever be duplicated, syndicated or replicated in any way.

"The Williams family will definitely miss her."