Flashback: Hingis' Six-Year AO Finals Streak

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Flashback: Hingis' Six-Year AO Finals Streak

By Erik Gudris

Each day during the Australian Open we will take a trip in our tennis time machine to relive historical moments in the tournament's history. Today we will look at a classic semifinal between Marat Safin and Andre Agassi in 2004. (So far, we've revisited: 1. John McEnroe's infamous AO banishment; 2. the "Serena Slam" 3. Federer and Tipsarevic's classic '08 clash, and 4. Mary Pierce's triumph in 1995. 5. Marat Safin outlasts Agassi in 2004. 6. Nadal Outlasts Verdasco in 2009 epic. 7. Schiavone Over Kuznetsova in 2011 Record Setter epic.)

(January 22, 2013) -- Martina Hingis earned her fame around the world as one of the WTA's greatest players ever, but she found her biggest Slam success at the Australian Open.

Beginning in 1997, the Swiss-born Hingis would appear in six consecutive women's singles finals in Melbourne. She won her first Australian Open title at age 16 in 1997 against former champion Mary Pierce 6-2, 6-2. That win made Hingis the youngest champion of a Grand Slam title since Lottie Dodd won Wimbledon in 1887.

Hingis soon ascended to No. 1 in the world and repeated as champion of Melbourne in 1998 (d. Conchita Martinez) and 1999 (d. Amelie Mauresmo). She then appeared in the finals again from 2000 to 2002 losing to Lindsay Davenport ('00) and then to Jennifer Capriati twice ('01, '02).

Hingis, due to injury, left tennis in 2003 but then returned to competition in 2005. Hingis finally retired in 2008 having won five Grand Slam singles titles and 37 career WTA singles titles.