Martina Hingis is back

Once a sensational tennis player that won many Grand Slam at young age but left the tennis scene 4 years ago due to injury, Martina Hingis is definitely back in action. Her presence is definitely greatly felt. In the first Grand Slam she compete, the Australian Open, she reached the last 8 and finally lost to Kim Clijsters in the Quarter Final. In Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament Women’s Singles (carpet) in Japan, she trashed Maria Sharapova in semi final and only lost to Elena Dementieva in the final. What a great comeback.

However, to win any title these days is not as easy as she had enjoyed year back. Firstly, she is now older and secondly, there are so many good players these days. In the women scene, you have the Willian Sisters, many good Russian players like Maria and Elena, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce and more.

The latest ATP Ranking as below:-

1 Kim Clijsters BEL
2 Amelie Mauresmo FRA
3 Lindsay Davenport USA
4 Maria Sharapova RUS
5 Justine Henin-hardenne BEL
6 Mary Pierce FRA
7 Nadia Petrova RUS
8 Elena Dementieva RUS
9 Patty Schnyder SUI
10 Venus Williams USA
11 Anastasia Myskina RUS
12 Francesca Schiavone ITA
13 Nicole Vaidisova CZE
14 Daniela Hantuchova SVK
15 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS
16 Flavia Pennetta ITA
17 Dinara Safina RUS
18 Elena Likhovtseva RUS
19 Ana Ivanovic SCG
20 Nathalie Dechy FRA

I can see that Martina now ranked 48 will have no problem to push herself back to top 10 of ATP Ranking soon and win some titles. To win a Grand Slam again is definitley not easy. Interesting to note that Serena William now rank at a low 37. Monica Seles has left the scene.

Tennis and Formula 1

Tennis and Formula 1 has always been my favourite sports. In Tennis, I always admire Andre Agassi who has gone through the up and down in life. The best Tennis matches that I enjoy the most must be the French Open Final in 1999 that was won by two old guards in Tennis, namely Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. Their determination to win and commitment to the sports always motivate me in one way or another. In contrast, Martina Hinggis who has won many matches at young age faded away from Tennis world since then. Have not heard much of her since then.

In Formula 1, the biggest thing that has happened must be the crash of Aryton Senna that has taken his life many years ago. Aryton Senna has never been my favourite and I enjoy watching Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Mika Hakinen racing more than others. Needless to say, McLaren is always my favourite team. Whether it is McLaren Honda or The West McLaren Mercedes Team, they always have my attention in all races. In recent years, I have watched Mika won for McLaren twice and glad to see McLaren is back to the running again in this season with Kimi Raikonan. Hope to see Kimi win again in this weekend British GP.

Staying awake at 2:00am to watch the US GP some four weeks ago must be one of those night that will stay in my memory for many years to come. Stunned to see 14 Formula 1 car drove straight to pit after the formation lap to skip the US GP for safety reason and later hope the race steward will stop the race or the spectators will flood the race track but all those never took place. The race started with only 6 cars and end with six and allowed Schuey and Ferrari to close the gap and at the same time deprived Kimi to close the gap to Alonso. The US GP is definitely the biggest F1 debacle in recent years. Who is right and who is wrong is hard to say. Put yourself in their shoe you will find that why each side took their own stand and why they made those decision at that time. If not handle properly, we could see the end of Formula 1 and the rise of the breakaway series. We shall wait and see.