Wozniacki too passive against big hitters: Hingis
Five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis has some advice for Caroline Wozniacki on how to handle the game's power hitters: Don't let them push you around.
- Associated Press
- Updated: January 25, 2012 05:30 PM IST
Five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis has some advice for Caroline Wozniacki on how to handle the game's power hitters: Don't let them push you around.
Wozniacki, who plays a largely defensive-minded game, fell to defending champion Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, ensuring she'll drop from the top spot in the rankings on Monday.
The 21-year-old Dane has a losing record against many of the game's biggest hitters - she's 0-3 against Clijsters, 0-3 against Serena Williams, 0-4 against Venus Williams and 2-3 against Maria Sharapova.
"I didn't step back. I tried not to let them push me," Hingis said of playing big hitters like the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport. "They were stronger than me. It's hard to play three, four players like that in a row. It's three setter after three setter after three setter.
"Today you just can't let yourself get pushed back," she added. Wozniacki "has to try to move in, step forward, otherwise there is always going to be somebody coming on top of her at a Grand Slam. She's a great player. I wish I would see her come in a little bit more."
Hingis, a three-time champion at the Australian Open, is playing in the legends' doubles event this week with partner Iva Majoli. It's her first time back at Melbourne Park since losing to Clijsters in the quarterfinals in 2007. She retired for a second time at the end of that season.
Earlier this week, a fan gave her some news clippings from 1997 when a 16-year-old Hingis won three of her major titles.
"Baby face when I look at the photos," she said. "I'm like, 'Oh, I was able to make great things, making these victories.' It was amazing."