By Martina Hingis
October 18 2004

“Ten years have now passed since I played my first match on the WTA Pro Tour. October 4th 1994, four days after my 14th birthday, I met the American Patty Fendick in the Zürcher Saalsporthalle. I still remember that I was not very nervous: I had nothing to lose. Naturally, I wanted to prove myself but this challenge I knew from the Junior years earlier. Carefree and without fear I went into this match and won 6-4, 6-3. The interest in this match was rather big: many journalists, also from the USA and England had arrived and players were sitting in the grandstand, they came to see how ‘the new one’ was going to perform.

There were comparisons made with Jennifer Capriati but there were hardly any similarities: I didn’t have a Clan, like the Williams sisters have today, only mama. Mario Widmer was not yet with us back then.

In the second round against Mary Pierce surely was too much to ask and I lost 6-4, 6-0. I could hold on for a long time but in the end I was against, a top player in those days, physically the weaker one. Mary didn’t like me from the start anyway, later she beats me in Toronto even once 6-0, 6-0. Eventually we became friends after all, winning the French Open in 2000 together in doubles.

The defeat in Zurich against Pierce would not bring me down.. I went my way and I could hold my own in this tennis world, with results. And I believe that off court mama and I brought along some fresh air into the tennis scene, because we take on anything more relaxed, which was for many on the WTA Tour somewhat unusual. There was not much talk amongst the competitors. The rivalry and the large amount of money that was tempting did make a lot of players loners. And their coaches were shielding their pupils from the outside world. With mama and me it was really different, we were also off court ‘normal’. There is no way you can hate the others every minute.

I wish you an eventful day in Schluefweg Till tomorrow”.