ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland announced Tuesday she will return to the Women's Tennis Association Tour next year.
Hingis, one of the most dominant women players, was forced to leave the Tour in 2002 due to numerous injuries to her feet, left knee and left hip. She has played just one WTA Tour match since then, a three-set defeat to German Marlene Weingartner earlier this year.
"I was never happy that my injuries cut my career short and ultimately forced my decision to step away from tennis," said Hingis. "I miss the game and the challenge of competing at the highest level of tennis."
Hingis, 25, has 40 WTA Tour singles titles, including five Grand Slams. She has captured every major except the French Open and is the youngest player in history to reach No. 1 in the world rankings (16 years, six months).
