The chequered career of the 25-year-old Swiss, who is back on tour after a three-year break, has seldom been more black and white than at the All England Club.
In 1997 Hingis became the youngest Wimbledon champion in the professional era when, aged 16 years and nine months, she overcame Czech Jana Novotna in three sets to win the second of three grand slam titles that year.
Two years later she suffered one of modern tennis's greatest shocks when, as top seed, she was thrashed 6-2 6-0 by qualifier Jelena Dokic in the first round.
Then in 2001, her most recent appearance, the top seed was humiliated again in the first round, losing to Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual.
Hingis has not played a competitive match on grass since that defeat and her absence from any of the pre-Wimbledon warm-up events suggests the five-times grand slam champion is not exactly worried about her return to southwest London.
"I'm looking forward to it, actually. I don't know what to expect," she said. "Usually the first day, second day I practise on grass I feel very good. Hopefully it will stay like that.
"It's been a while since I stood on a grass court. I never really had a problem in the past, so I don't really see why I should be having problems now.
"It's pretty much the same for everybody. Nobody really practises on grass."
Hingis's carefree approach stems from the fact the former world number one has already surpassed expectations this year.
In January few thought Hingis would march so confidently back into the upper echelons of women's tennis. Now, though, she is ranked 15 after claiming the first title of her comeback at the Italian Open in May.
Quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and French Open confirmed she is genuinely competitive at the very highest level and the unpredictability of grass will play into her hands at Wimbledon.
Hingis is probably matched only by French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in terms of tactical awareness on a tennis court.
NO REGRETS
Like the Belgian, she can be submerged by harder-hitting rivals. The superior power of another Belgian, Kim Clijsters, put paid to the Swiss in both the last eight in Melbourne and Paris.
Hingis was particularly unlucky at Roland Garros when a combination of unseasonal weather and unfavourable scheduling meant she had to play on five consecutive days at the claycourt grand slam.
She could have been forgiven for feeling a little bit bitter about that but Hingis is simply happy to be back doing what she does best.
"I never regret one minute of coming back," she said. "That's probably the most positive thing that has happened. Every person needs something in life that really pushes you and makes you want to do something.
"Of course, you have ups and downs, highs and lows, which is normal. You just have to dig deep and keep going."
© 2024 Rediff.com -