MARTINA HINGIS Biography - 16 year old "Swiss Miss" Tennis Phenome
        Birth date: 09/1980     	Birth place: Kosice, Slovakia
        Height: 5'6"    	       Residence: Trubbach, Switzerland
        Weight: 115 lbs.        	WTA Rank: #1
The number one seeded player, Martina Hingis, may not have arrived at 
Wimbledon with the fondest feelings --- for its record rainfall, or its 
pitted bad-bounce grass, or having to wear all white apparel, or its 
insistence that she play serve-and-volley style of tennis she doesn't like 
very much, being a baseline player at heart.  That didn't stop her from being 
crowned ladies singles champion July 6, 1997 in a finals match with 
third-seeded Czechoslovakian Jana Novotna (2-6, 6-3, 6-3).
However, Martina might be in danger of losing her "glamor girl" image to 
another 16 year old, Anna Kournikova from Moscow, who has been turning heads 
with her a-body-to-die-for good looks, and also earning black marks for her 
reputed vanity, coldness in interviews, and dating a 27 year old NHL player 
for the Detroit Red Wings, Sergei Fedorov.
On the court, Kournikova has quick moves to net, plays drops, takes risks 
and, her biggest asset, athleticism.  Martina, the senior by almost 10 
months, has a career in full bloom and what makes her the world's best is 
that she learns her lessons, maintains her poise and has flexible plays and 
strategies.  What may be the great difference between these exceptional 
all-court players is that Kournikova is 16 going on 25 while Martina is 16 
going on, well, 17, and the two move in distinct disparate worlds.  Critics 
do say that these teens will make the next grand rivalry in women's tennis.
On the other hand, Martina has been busy winning friends with her pleasing 
personality and general friendliness, though some critics have accused her of 
being overly confident and that she smiles smugly about it.  As a matter of 
fact, the notorious British Press has coined the phrase "the smiling 
Assassin" to label her in their tabloids.  They may be miscontruing, either 
intentionally or unintentionally, sublime self-confidence and innocent 
congeniality for something more sinister.
While Kournikova raises eyebrows dating Sergei Fedorov, Martina remains under 
the reins of her mother Melanie.  Martina has stated that she thinks there is 
still time for those things.  
The product of a broken home, at first glance Martina, who was named after 
Martina Navratilova, seems to have come through it without any visible scars. 
Melanie separated with Martina's father, Karol Hingis, when Martina was just 
three years old.  The only coach Martina has known, Melanie entered her in 
the first tournament at four and took her daughter to Switzerland at 
seven,settling in Trubbach where she married Swiss computer consultant 
Andreas Zogg. Melanie divorced Zogg last year and decided to go back to her 
maiden name Molitor.
If there's a dark side to Martina's life, it's her relationship with her 
father.  While her mother enjoys the life of a millionaire the 47 year old 
Karol lives with his 82 year old mother in a shabby apartment in 
Kosice,Slovakia and works as a caretaker at the local iron factory's tennis 
club. As much as he desires to see his daughter play, he has agreed not to 
interfere in Martina's career and remain in the background.
The criticisms on Melanie the tennis mom are mixed.  Her critics paint her as 
a domineering mother and pan her for trying to control every aspect of 
Martina's life.  Although a harsh taskmaster when it comes to tennis, she has 
also earned high marks for allowing Martina to enjoy life away from the court 
--- with roller blading and horseback riding her favorite activities. Just 
seven weeks prior to the '97 French Open, Martina was thrown from her horse 
and had to have knee surgery.  At one point it was thought that she would 
never play again and that her promising career was over.  But she recovered 
and actually had to train herself while playing at the French Open and, 
amazingly, she managed to come in second to Iva Majoli.
Martina claims to be a happy girl and like most European prodigies she quit 
school early.  But she doesn't believe she has missed much.
"Travelling is an even better form of education than spending eight hours a 
day in class," she insists.  "I learned so many different things about 
cultures, attitudes and nationalities."
Nevertheless, Martina does admit: "The one thing I did miss out on, not being 
in school, was having a normal life, being able to sit around with my 
girlfriends and talk about girl things."
The most surprising fact about the bubbly Martina is that it's only her 
second year on the tour and just how well she's been accepted by her peers. 
There is some understandable jealously at the rapidity of her success and 
fame.  But her infectious good humor and unassuming style has been winning 
locker room converts left and right.
Last year she defeated Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the U.S. Open which 
was a major upset.  This year Martina was partnered with her in the Wimbledon 
ladies doubles.  19 year old Bosnian Iva Majoli won the '97 French Open title 
from Martina and gave her sincere hugs and kisses over the loss. Even Jana 
Novotna in being runner-up at Wimbledon, joked with Martina and,at one point 
during the awards presentation by the Duke and Duchess of Kent,took the large 
Rosewater Dish from her and pretended that she had won. Sabine Appelmans, who 
was defeated by Martina in an early round at Wimbledon,complimented her 
afterwards to the media by gushing that "She talks to everybody, she's nice 
to everybody".
To date, Martina has earned $3 million in official earnings and another $12 
million in clothing endorsements.  In the forseeable future, she will earn 
substantially more especially if she continues to play not only singles but 
women's and mixed doubles, one of the few top seeds to do so.  What is far 
more important, however, is that Martina brings a freshness to women's tennis 
and, aside from being talented and attractive, she also brings a wide-eyed 
enjoyment of the sport which I, for one, hope she never loses.
UNDER 16 CHAMPION PLAYERS: Charlotte Dodd - 1887 Wimbledon  15 yrs. 1 mo.
        	          MARTINA HINGIS - 1997 Australian 16 yrs. 3 mo.
        	          Monica Seles   - 1990 French     16 yrs. 6 mo.
        	          Tracy Austin   - 1979 U.S.       16 yrs. 9 mo.
        
CONSECUTIVE MATCH WINS RECORD: Steffi Graf         - 45 in 1987
        	              MARTINA HINGIS      - 38 in 1997
        	              Martina Navratilova - 36 in 1978
        	              Martina Navratilova - 35 in 1988
        	              Chris Evert         - 34 in 1981
PERSONAL RECORD: - youngest to be ranked #1 by WTA.
        	 - youngest and fastest to earn over $1 million earnings.
        	 - youngest to win Grand Slam singles this century
        	   at the '97 Australian.
        	 - youngest to win Grand Slam doubles this century
--- Maximus 2.02
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