Hingis set to play in Liverpool

Former world number one Martina Hingis is to play at the Liverpool International tennis tournament at Calderstones Park in June.

The Swiss star, 27, retired from tennis in 2007 after testing positive for cocaine and receiving a two-year ban.

Her last competitive match was a defeat by Shuai Peng in Beijing in September.

Hingis - a five-time Grand Slam winner - is able to play in Liverpool as the Wimbledon warm-up event is invitational and not part of the WTA Tour.

Tournament director Anders Borg said: "It is a great boost for us to have Martina playing in Liverpool.

"She still has a lot to offer the world of tennis and we are just very pleased we can take advantage of that."

Two more Wimbledon legends - Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash - have also confirmed they will play in the event.

The tournament takes place from 10-15 June.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7276711.stm

what kind of a signal does this give to younger players/people in general. Even if you are a cheat you will get rewarded!! hmm this is the modern world..

Still not sure the cheat label quite fits for Hingis T01?!!

Cocaine ain't exactly performance enhancing drug as far as I am aware.. :shrug:

Unless she wanted to incoherently jabber to everyone and make her opponent want to default..

good on Martina :clap:

and the lady ain't no drugs cheat :angry: - as if she could pull off a clutch drop-shot after a couple of bumps during a bathroom break :P

So why is she banned if not for cocaine? I have doubts on her as firstly she said she would not contest the ban. Then she questioned the integrety of the sample.. Which in mind is dubious..

Well we can't say if she is a cheat or not really, according to the authorities she is though and therein lies the problem. Doesn't matter whether coke enhances perfromance, it is a banned substance. But my personal view is that temporarily it can enhance things a litte but long term it would do mor eharm than good cos it si psychologically addictive. She couldn't surely have been takign ti regulary then to make her feel better in matches.

It's a split thing really though - good for the tounry and the fans, and I like her game. But bad message maybe? :shrug:

maybe.

well my stand is: she should have known better. I appreciate she is an excellent player etc.. but no more place for her in the sport, unless she does rehab and tries another comeback in a couple of years time. Not now.. no fancy tournaments or exhibitions..

Also I get the feeling you guys seem to believe that she took it.. hmm..

Well I can't say for sure, I really do not know. All I can say is that I think what has happened is a great shame, she is arguably one of the most outstanding talents in women's tennis and after making a comeback what has happened is truly sad whoever is to blame. I for one wanted to see her do well and was glad for her fans when she came back. And for tennis. I'd personally like to see her carry on playing, adn personally hope that all she did was at worst take the odd bit fo recreational drugs. I really cannto say anymore.

i've made my peace for Martina Hingis. no need to repeat.

I will pay to see her live. I dont believe for one second she has taken coke for performance enhancement. If anything taking it would mean she would be up all night and in no fit state to play the next day. If we compare it to Amy Winehouse, who is one of the most successful women in her field, despite her openness about recreational drugs, why should it be different for a sports star? I personally dont think she uses coke, but it would be hypocritical in this day and age to snub her when half of our pop and film idols get up to much worse.

Good point. Just that sports is tighter controlled than arts and music. But if she were a serious coke addict she'd be in a right state and she isn't.

Martina forever :P