Nalbandian Beats Federer AGAIN, Hingis Retires AGAIN

Not a good day for Swiss tennis fans.

Argentine David Nalbandian beat Roger Federer for the second time in less than two weeks, earning a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory in the third round of the Paris Masters. This is becoming business as usual for Nalby, read the full story here.

I only can say, “Vamos Daveeeeed!” Sorry, when it comes to Nalbandian, I can’t even pretend that I am impartial, because I am very, very, very biased. “The crazy fan” mode takes over my brain.

Let’s get to the juicy news . Former world number one women’s tennis player Martina Hingis of Switzerland has announced her retirement AGAIN but this time in a new “fashion.” She is accused of using cocaine during Wimbledon 2007.

At a news conference in Zurich, Switzerland, the five-time Grand Slam winner denied (who doesn’t deny nowadays, at least at the FIRST news conference) using drugs. Hingis fought back tears as she read a statement, calling the accusation horrendous and monstrous. The Swiss player said she is 100 percent innocent.

Martina Hingis’ statement reads (via Tennis World)

Throughout my career, I have always been open and honest with you.

I have been accused by an outsource testing company of taking cocaine during the Championships at Wimbledon. I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to confront it head-on by talking to the press.

My weapon on the tennis court is and always was one single thing: the game, the ingenuity on court. And for this style of tennis, there is only one performance enhancer – the love of the game.
They say that cocaine increases self-confidence and creates a type of euphoria. I don’t know. I only know that if I were to try to hit the ball while in any state of euphoria, it simply wouldn’t work. I would think that it would be impossible for anyone to maintain the coordination required to play top class tennis while under the influence of drugs. And I know one other thing – I would personally be terrified of taking drugs.

When I was informed that the A Test I took following my defeat at Wimbledon apparently came back positive for a cocaine metabolite, I was shocked and appalled.

[…]

I immediately retained an attorney. Anybody who even attempts to take on this doping machinery alone has no chance.

[…]

I am frustrated and angry. I believe that I am absolutely, one hundred percent innocent. The fact is that it is more and more difficult for me, physically, to keep playing at the top of the game. And frankly, accusations such as these don’t exactly provide me with motivation to even make another attempt to do so. I attempted a comeback after a three-year break and succeeded in winning three tournaments, bringing my ranking to 6 in the world. But in the meantime, I’m now 27 years old, and realistically too old to play top class tennis.

So now I’m standing before you, confronting the situation. Today I also informed my sponsors.
And so, considering this situation, my age, and the problems I have been having with my hip, I have decided to no longer play tennis on the Tour.

Upon advice from my attorneys, I’m afraid I am unable to answer any questions. My answers could insult someone and create even more problems for me. Therefore, there is only one more thing for me to do - to thank all of you for many years of goodwill, and also to assure you: I have never taken drugs.