Today at 3:00 p.m. ET Martina Hingis, 34, will team with popular Indian player Sania Mirza in the U.S. Open women's doubles quarterfinals as No. 1 seeds, an impressive feat considering Hingis is ancient by tennis standards. Watch the pair play free by clicking this link.
In an ESPN W report, spectators commenting about Hingis' age were less than flattering. "She's what, like 50?" and "This must be for funsies," were common refrains. Hingis should be shutting a lot of mouths with her play of late.
When Hingis was atop the tennis universe, she was among the youngest players ever to reach her heights. She won a doubles Grand Slam title at 15 years old, becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion of all-time, and became the youngest No. 1 ranked player in history two years later. The incredible work she put in to become so skilled so young is now serving as the base for her continued success when she's supposed to fade.
"I think we have the foundation," Hingis said. "In our generation, we definitely spent hours and hours on the court that no one can take away from us. I think this shows that at the end of the day, that we have the skills and now we can come back to them and produce this kind of tennis." Hingis said "we," referencing the forty men 30 or older competing in the U.S. Open, and the average age among women players rising three years.
Mirza said Hingis' experience is a bigger factor than her age. "She's won at this level many times before," Mirza said.
"Even though it was a long time ago, I think it's important to know how to win. Because a lot of the time, it comes down to nerves." Mirza is 28, rapidly approaching the dreaded three-decade mark.
"We're trying to enjoy the moment," Mirza said. "I've come back from a couple of terrible injuries where I thought my career was over. Her career was over a couple of times, and she came back. I think we both appreciate being on the court."
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