Roger did a brave and very nice proposal to Martina: playing the mixed doubles at the Olympic Games in London.
Unfortunately a&ter some thinking, both agreed that it is in the best interest of Roger to focus more on sigles and doubles (here as the 2008 defending champion with Wawrinka).
About the Olympics
“I was kind of flattered that he asked me, but at the end we decided not to play,” Hingis said “I mean, I would have to get back into great shape, playing doubles or mixed doubles at the Grand Slams,”
“He kind of felt that feeling, that tingling sensation that he had a chance. And you could see when he was winning those indoor events that he felt like, O.K., he beat Nadal, he beat Djokovic, so maybe he has his opportunities to do it at a Grand Slam. And now at Wimbledon it just all came back together. And wow, back to No. 1, and being able`to have only 20 days in between, this is his chance to win the Olympics as well. So that’s what I said back then: ‘If I was your coach? I would tell you you have to focus on the singles. He became No. 1, he won Wimbledon. So all his dreams, they got realized. And now having the pole position to win the Olympics, the one thing he hasn’t got yet, I think is a great opportunity.”
“I think both of us, we didn’t think that it’s going to be such an explosion, you know?” Hingis said. “The people kept asking me, ‘So, you’re playing with Federer?’ and all that, ‘That’s great! Wish you luck!’ And I’m like, ‘Well, we haven’t decided!’”
“Then when we decided not to play, everyone was like, ‘Aw, it would have been so great.’ But yeah, I loved that kind of positive attitude about it.”
About Roger’s fantastic form
“I haven’t seen Roger in such fantastic shape in two and a half, three years, since the last time he won a Grand Slam,” Hingis said . “I think the moment Nadal loses at a Grand Slam, he felt like this is his opportunity. I think mentally, Nadal, for him, is such a barrier, that once he lost he saw the draw open — and he’s not afraid of Djokovic. He never was, and I think every time he sees the opportunity to beat him. And although he didn’t a couple times — U.S. Open, match points — but he beat him last year. So I think he’s not afraid of someone like Djokovic, but Nadal is not his kind of player”.
“But wow, the matches, the tennis he produced in the semifinals, finals. There’s not much to say. Wow. And I think also`it helped him that the roof was closed, it felt more like playing indoors. Sometimes everything falls in place, and this was his year.”
