Swiss in form for Australian Open

Is Grand Slam glory beckoning for Federer? Keystone

Following their emphatic wins in Sydney, Swiss tennis stars Martina Hingis and Roger Federer are brimming with confidence on the eve of the Australian Open.

On Saturday Hingis and Federer made history by becoming the first Swiss pair ever to win both the men’s and women’s final at the same tennis tournament. Now the country’s two top players are looking to take their impressive form into the first Grand Slam event of the season.

“Great advert”

“Out two victories are a great advert for Swiss tennis,” beamed Hingis (WTA 4) after her straight sets win (6-2, 6-3) over America’s Meghann Shaughnessy (WTA 12). For Hingis the victory was particularly sweet, coming after a three-month injury lay-off and ending an 11-month title drought.

But it’s the Swiss player’s three-year wait for a Grand Slam title that will become the focus of attention over the next two weeks. Hingis’s current form and her previous history at the prestigious Melbourne tournament have certainly placed her back among the favourites.

The 21-year-old Swiss has reached the final of the Australian Open for the last five years, winning the event three times in a row between 1997 and 1999.

Hingis confident

“The win (in Sydney) has given me plenty of confidence,” said Hingis as she looked ahead to the Grand Slam event “especially with six top-ten players having taken part.”

“The pressure though will be on (defending champion) Jennifer Capriati and the Williams sisters,” insisted Hingis. “I will just be happy if I can continue my winning streak.”

Hingis starts her bid for Grand Slam glory on Monday when she meets French world number 88 Virginie Razzano in the tournament’s opening round.

Federer hopeful

Following his own straight sets win (6-3, 6-3) over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela on Saturday, Swiss men’s number one Roger Federer (ATP 13) is drawing ever closer to his short-term aim of a place in the world’s top ten. And after clinching the second title win of his young career, the 20-year-old certainly wouldn’t mind winning his third in Melbourne.

“I just hope I can continue playing the way I have been in the last few days,” said a satisfied Federer. “If I can do that then I can go a long way.”

The Swiss number one begins his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday with a first round match against former tournament champion Michael Chang (ATP 94).