Top seed Martina Hingis is heading back to Switzerland early this week after a surprise first round Wimbledon loss to unknown Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual, 6-4, 6-2. Martina blamed the stunning loss on a back injury which was said to have developed just last week.“I have tendinitis in my lower back,” the Swiss Miss revealed after the match. “I was more or less only able to play standing. The injury started last week and I had to have acupuncture. It improved but it was too short a recovery time to really heal.”
The cocksure player said her injury almost kept her from Wimbledon, but judging from Virginia’s less-than-stellar world ranking and lack of grass court prowess, Martina decided to step onto centre court. “I knew I had a chance against Virginia,” she said. “I mean, if I had to play some other player I would not even have come here.”
Though Hingis may have been in pain during the match, her opponent didn’t notice. “She served, ran around and seemed to do everything,” said Virginia. “I did not know she was injured. Maybe the point is that I played the best game.”
“I have beaten the world number one. Me,” the 27-year-old exclaimed.
Martina, whose mum watched the hour-long match from a courtside seat, will now ready herself for the upcoming hard court season. “Now I have five weeks off until the next tournament and I intend to take them,” she says. “I have always had ups and downs in my career and sometimes you need some time to recover your body and soul.”
This defeat is an all too familiar scene for Hingis, who stumbled in the first round just two years ago at Wimbledon to then-unknown Jelena Dokic. This is only the fourth time in history the top seed has lost in the first round – Hingis accounts for two of those.
Martina’s early exit from the prestigious tournament leaves the road open for Jennifer Capriati and the Williams sisters, with whom Martina has had a bitter rivalry. On the eve of Wimbledon, Martina criticised Venus Williams – the defending All England Lawn champ – for her risqué court attire. The 20-year-old hit out at controversial champion Venus, saying: “I could never wear an outfit like Venus Williams wears. My job is to play tennis – not to be showing off that much.”
The much-chronicled rivalry between the two may have caused an increase in demand for Wimbledon tickets, not to mention the staggering price tag that accompanies the few remaining seats. Though most tickets for the final event are sold for a relatively modest £66, several thousand are set aside for those who can afford to pay considerably more, namely corporations. Seats for this year’s Wimbledon women’s final sold for £1,510 each, and were quickly snapped up by companies.
Though the price is steep, officials are quick to point out the luxuries attached to the tickets. “This does include executive parking, a champagne and canapes reception, an a la carte lunch, full afternoon tea with strawberries and cream at a private table for two and access to a complimentary bar,” said a spokesman for Sportsworld, Wimbledon’s official ticket agent.
Tickets for the men’s final, in anticipation of a potential dramatic outing from Pete Sampras, have sold for £2,667. Wimbledon kicked off on Monday with Serena Williams swiftly defeating Hungarian Rita Kuti Kis.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
