New low for Hingis

Hingis has had little to smile about this season Keystone Archive

Switzerland's Martina Hingis has slumped to seventh place in the world tennis rankings - her lowest position in more than five years.

Last week the former world number one suffered another setback in her bid to regain the top spot when she had to withdraw from the German Open in Hamburg due to a foot injury, which has also ruled her out of this week’s Italian Open.

As a result Hingis has fallen three positions in the world rankings from her previous fourth place.

The Swiss star hasn’t been outside the top six since November 1996 and managed to finish three of the last five seasons in the number one spot.

Grand Slam drought

A combination of injuries and some disappointing performances at the Grand Slam events has contributed to Hingis’s current fall. The Swiss number one has not managed to win one of the sport’s top four events since clinching the Australian Open title in January 1999.

Her latest injury woe comes at a particularly bad time, with less than two weeks to go until the French Open – the only Grand Slam tournament which Hingis has yet to win.

Federer falls

Swiss men’s number one, Roger Federer, has also fallen three places in the ATP world rankings, dropping from 11th in the world to 14th.

Federer has suffered from two poor performances in the latest Masters Series tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome, going out in the second and first round respectively.

swissinfo