Hingis, 22, realizes her pro tennis career probably is over

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Martina Hingis is coming to terms with the knowledge that her pro tennis career probably is over.

"There should be no illusions. My dreams are over. Tennis will certainly still be part of my life, but not what it was before," Hingis said in an interview published Saturday in the Zurich daily Tagesanzeiger.

"It's sad to have to end everything at 22, but sometimes you have to open your eyes."

Hingis, who won five Grand Slam singles titles, had surgery on her right ankle in October 2001 and on her left ankle last May. She pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon -- the first majors she missed since turning pro in 1994. She returned to the tour in August, then went back to rehab in October.

Hingis has been living quietly near Zurich, attending college to perfect her English. She rides horses and recently bought an 8-year-old mare.

Asked how long she can play tennis without feeling pain, Hingis said: "Around 60 to 90 minutes. But if I had to play and train every day, it would get worse as the week went by. The body doesn't regenerate as fast as when you're 15 or 16."

Hingis was just 16 years and three months when she won the first of her three Australian Open titles in 1997, making her the youngest Grand Slam singles champion of the 20th century. She made six straight finals at the Australian Open, winning the first three and losing the last three.

She also won the 1997 Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles, and lost the French Open final that year to Iva Majoli. She spent a total of 209 weeks at No. 1 in the WTA Tour rankings, winning 40 singles titles and 36 doubles titles, including nine at Grand Slam tournaments, and earned more than $18 million.

"There are other ways to make money," Hingis said.

"I have a huge knowledge of tennis and I want to make use of it," she said, adding that she planned to work with her sponsor Adidas but had not yet fixed details.

"I can also see myself on the courts, checking out who has talent."

But Hingis said she had no plans to begin a coaching career.

"I was a tough enough case myself," she said. "But if someone asks for my advice, I'm always willing to help."