Former World No. 1 and two-time Hamburg champion, Martina Hingis, will visit the Hamburg European Open 2023 as a special guest this week. The 42-year-old Swiss will take part in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Saturday.

Hingis made tennis history at the Rothenbaum Tennis Complex as one of the greatest talents of all time. At age 14, she reached her first final on the WTA Tour, defeating players like Anke Huber and Jana Novotna, but eventually fell to Conchita Martinez. Hingis captured the title in northern Germany in 1998 (against Jana Novotna) as well as in 2000. During her Hamburg visit, she will meet Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, her opponent in the final 23 years ago. The 51-year-old Spaniard will also be a guest over the weekend. In 2002, Hingis claimed the doubles title in Hamburg alongside Barbara Schett, and once again, her final opponent was Sanchez Vicario, who teamed up with Daniela Hantuchova.

“Hamburg will always have a special place in my heart. It’s where I played my first final and celebrated my first doubles title. I am thrilled about the invitation and happy to return after such a long time,” said Hingis.

“Martina Hingis is an absolute legend of tennis and has a firm place in the history of the Hamburg women’s tournament. We are very proud that Martina is coming to Hamburg to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WTA with us, along with her former final opponent, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, her doubles partner Barbara Schett, and many others,” tournament director Sandra Reichel stated.

Hingis became the first Swiss player ever to win a Grand Slam tournament and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 1. She spent a total of 209 weeks at the top of the rankings and became the youngest champion of a Grand Slam tournament of all time, lifting the 1997 Australian Open trophy at age 16 years and 117 days. Hingis captured five Grand Slam career singles titles – all as a teenager – and 13 in doubles. Her last triumph at a major came just six years ago when she won the US Open in both doubles and mixed doubles. After the WTA Tour Finals in 2017, she finally ended her professional career at the age of 37.