Cramps, soreness and the fatigue that comes with playing no major singles match for eight years scuppered Martina Hingis’ push for a romantic comeback victory in the Fed Cup on Sunday.
Yet the 34-year-old was still all smiles after losing a winning position against Urszula Radwanska as her Swiss teammates ended up hailing her as an “inspiration” in their thrilling 3-2 triumph against Poland in the World Group play-off.
The five-time singles Grand Slam champion said she had enjoyed the “fantastic” team spirit in her first Fed Cup tie for 17 years and confirmed she would love another crack next year with a team elevated to the World Group for the first time since 2004.
Photo: AFP
Yet she admitted to disappointment after standing on the verge of a wholly unlikely victory after so long away from tour-level combat, as she led world No. 114 Radwanska by a set and 5-2.
She just needed that solitary game to seal a 3-1 triumph for Switzerland, following Timea Bacsinszky’s surprise 6-1, 6-1 hammering of Agnieszka Radwanska, but cramps, nerves and ring rust took over as she lost the next 13 points.
Hingis, who had agreed to play singles because of an injury crisis for the Swiss and who also lost to Radwanska’s sister, Agnieszka, on Saturday, faded fast.
Barely able to move any more at 4-1 down in the final set, she needed seven minutes of medical treatment before courageously battling on and inevitably succumbing 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Hingis, who had originally been selected only for the doubles, then turned coach and cheerleader at courtside watching Bacsinszky and Viktorija Golubic win the tie with a 2-6 6-4 9-7 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska and Alicja Rosolska.
In the other Fed Cup World Group playoffs, Italy defeated the US 3-2, the Netherlands crushed Australia 4-1 and Canada were beaten at home by Romania 3-1.
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