Swiss ace faces fitness race

General / Editor / 11 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Betfair punters will be taking note that Martina Hingis is in a race against time to be fit for the French Open after suffering a back injury.

The 26-year-old former world number one crashed out of the German Open 6-4 6-0 to fellow Swiss Patty Schnyder and is almost certain to miss next week's Italian Open. It leaves Hingis with just over two weeks to be ready for Roland Garros - the only Grand Slam she has never won.

"I don't know if it's going to get better that quickly. I'll see how far I get in the next two weeks," she said.

"It's not a lot of time so every day has to be a good day. We'll see. I'm not going to play unless I am 100 per cent."

Hingis admitted she rushed back from a six-week injury lay-off to play in Berlin, then struggling past second-round opponent Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko on Wednesday.

She added: "It was already a miracle that I won the first-round match. I had a problem with the hip flexor and now it has gone to the back but I have to be patient."

Hingis is currently trading at 38 in Betfair's French Open winner market, with the women's event looking wide open.

Justine Henin leads the betting at 2.52, with 2002 champion Serena Williams next best at 5.6. Amelie Mauresmo is on offer at 8.6 while Maria Sharapova is available at 12.