Hingis excited for challenge of World Team Tennis

For its 35th anniversary, World Team Tennis has been counting down the top 35 players who have made an impact in its history. With three slots to go, the names that remain might sound familiar: Billie Jean King and two women named Martina.

Count Martina Hingis as one of the two. The five-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 will make a return to World Team Tennis by playing for the New York Buzz this summer. This will be her first competitive action since being banned in 2007 after failing a drug test at Wimbledon.

Despite injuries and the drug test derailing her career, the spirit that once made Hingis the youngest grand slam champion, winning the Wimbledon women's doubles title at 15, is still alive and well.

Hingis said she is competing again "because I love the game."

"I always loved tennis, so that never really stopped me from playing," she said yesterday during a conference call. "I always liked the competition. I liked going out there and have a challenge and play some tennis. Just to have a little bit of that, that's what I'm looking for."

Hingis will play a full season for the Albany-based team, opening up against the Freedoms at home on July 5. They will pay a visit to the Freedoms at the Pavilion on Villanova's campus on July 21.

In the past, the 29-year-old has been noted for her questionable comments regarding Venus and Serena Williams. When asked about the chance to go against the two during the season, she was reflective on past battles of her finesse vs. the sisters' power.

"I think we always brought out the best tennis in each other," Hingis said. "I have great memories. That was some of the best tennis. We have played a lot of matches in the past and I'm sure it's going to be different this time around but I love the competition, I love the challenge."

This won't be the first comeback for Hingis. Returning to team tennis from ligament damage to both ankles in 2005, she made a successful return to the WTA Tour and finished 2006 ranked seventh in the world. So will this year be similar?

"I'm going to turn 30," Hingis said, sheepishly. "I love to play tennis and it's definitely a different time. At this point, I'm not considering a comeback. Not for the singles, I'm not considering a comeback. I have no further plans at this point."

She will however make a return to Wimbledon, the site of her 1997 singles Grand Slam title. She will team with Anna Kournikova, also making a return to the game, in the doubles legends match at the All England Club.

Hingis seems to be in a good place and is ready for new life in the sport. She looks forward to the team tennis atmosphere possibly helping her regain the all-world ability that made her an icon in the WTT and on the WTA tour.

"I'm good," she said, assessing her health. "I hope that I can say the same thing when I am finished with team tennis. It is totally different from when you play tournaments that are mostly quiet. Here you have the music playing. You have the teammates rooting for you so I really like the team spirit. I have not played much, so it will be a great experience."