Bollettieri issues Hingis warning

By Caroline Cheese

The game is much stronger than when she left Nick Bollettieri Feature: Hingis' power struggle

Martina Hingis could face a struggle on her return to the WTA Tour, says renowned coach Nick Bollettieri.

The former world number one makes her comeback at the Gold Coast event next week, three years after retiring.

Bollettieri, who coached the Swiss star briefly in 1998, told BBC Sport: "I've sent her an email to wish her good luck but she needs more than luck.

"Her serve will be a big factor. The game is different now - if you have an apparent weakness it's not easy."

Bollettieri praised Hingis' competitive spirit, but said the five-times Grand Slam champion could be exposed by the power players who currently dominate women's tennis.

"The game is so much stronger now than when she left," said the American, who has also coached Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.

"We're not talking about eight or 10 good players out there. If you go down to 15, 20, even 50 in the world, you have a lot of very good players.

If I play the tennis I played three years ago I won't survive Martina Hingis

"A lot of eyes will be on Martina and it's not going to be an easy road."

And the 25-year-old herself admits she will have to develop her game if she is to make any impact when she returns.

"If I play the tennis I played three years ago I won't survive," said Hingis, who will face Venezuelan Maria Vento-Kabchi in the first round of the Gold Coast tournament.

"I've been trying to work on my whole game, baseline and serve. You have to have a serve to survive today."

Hingis retired in 2002 because of foot, heel and ankle injuries but in November she announced her intention to return.

She has since accepted wildcards for the tournaments on the Gold Coast and in Sydney and has been offered entry into the Australian Open.