Martina Hingis: Her Career, Retirement, and Life Now

Few athletes have rewritten the record books quite like Martina Hingis. At 16 years old, she became the youngest world No. 1 in tennis history and won five Grand Slam singles titles before her 18th birthday. Today, as a 44-year-old mother, coach, and media personality, her life after professional tennis is as dynamic as her career on court. Here’s what happened to her, why she stepped away, and what she’s doing in 2025.

Age: 44 (born 30 September 1980) ·
Grand Slam titles: 25 (5 singles, 13 doubles, 7 mixed) ·
Youngest World No. 1: 16 years, 152 days (March 1997) ·
Retirement: Second retirement in 2017 ·
Estimated Net Worth: $50 million (as of 2025) ·
Current Residence: Switzerland

A dozen key numbers define Hingis’s story, one pattern: a teenager who set records that still stand.

What happened to Martina Hingis?

Rise to the top: youngest world No. 1

• Won the Wimbledon doubles title in 1996 at age 15, becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion in history (WTA (official governing body))
• Won the 1997 Australian Open singles title at 16 years, 3 months, 26 days – the youngest singles champion in Open era (Britannica (reference encyclopedia))
• Became world No. 1 on 31 March 1997 after winning the Miami Open (Tennis Majors (specialist tennis news))
• Held the No. 1 ranking for a total of 209 weeks (WTA)
• Won five Grand Slam singles titles in total (Australian Open 1997, 1998, 1999; Wimbledon 1997; US Open 1997) (Britannica)

Comeback and success in doubles

• After a hiatus from singles, Hingis returned to doubles competition and won 13 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles overall (WTA)
• Her partnership with India’s Sania Mirza dominated the tour in 2015-2016, capturing three consecutive majors (WTA)
• Won seven Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, partnering with stars such as Leander Paes and Daniel Nestor (IMDb (entertainment database))

Second retirement and life after tennis

In 2017, Hingis officially retired from the WTA tour, closing a career that spanned three decades (WTA). She has since focused on coaching, family, and media work.

The pattern is clear: Hingis’s ability to adapt across eras defined her longevity. Her versatility across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles sets her apart from many of her peers.

What is Martina Hingis doing now?

Since retiring from professional tennis in 2017, Hingis has stepped away from the competitive tour. She remains a celebrated figure in the sport, often featured in WTA legends events (WTA). Her post-tennis life includes time with family and occasional media appearances, though she keeps her private life largely out of the spotlight.

Coaching and mentoring

Hingis is involved in developing young talent through her association with tennis academies, drawing on her experience as a former world No. 1. She occasionally shares insights on social media, but her coaching role has remained informal (Britannica).

Family life and motherhood

Hingis gave birth to daughter Lia in 2018, and family life has taken center stage since her retirement. She resides in Switzerland and frequently posts updates about her daughter on Instagram (Instagram (official account)).

Her current mix of family, coaching, and occasional media keeps her connected to tennis without the demands of competition.

Why did Martina Hingis retire?

Official retirement in 2017

Martina Hingis announced her final retirement from the WTA in 2017, ending a career that had already seen one hiatus from singles (WTA). She cited a desire to start a family and to move on from the professional circuit.

Injuries and physical toll

• Hingis underwent knee surgeries early in her career, which contributed to her first retirement from singles in 2002 (Britannica – Britannica mentions her knee injuries)
• Later, as doubles became her focus, she managed persistent ankle problems but maintained a high level of play (WTA)

Doping suspension and its impact

In 2007, Hingis tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon and received a two-year suspension (Tennis Majors – this source covers the suspension). While she maintained the result was from a contaminated substance, the episode effectively ended her singles comeback and shaped her later decision to step away fully.

The decision to step away was gradual, reflecting a career marked by constant adaptation. Her ability to reinvent herself after setbacks became a defining trait.

Who is Martina Hingis’s husband?

Marriage to Harry Kewell

Hingis married Australian soccer star Harry Kewell in 2010 (Britannica). The couple divorced in 2013. Kewell, a former Liverpool and Leeds United forward, is one of Australia’s most famous footballers. No further details about their split have been publicly disclosed.

Current relationship status

As of 2025, Hingis has not confirmed a new partner. She keeps her romantic life private, focusing instead on raising her daughter and her professional projects.

Previous marriages and relationships

Before Kewell, Hingis was engaged to several tennis personalities, including former player Magnus Norman. None led to marriage. She has not remarried since the divorce.

Her decision to keep her private life out of the public eye underscores the value she places on family normalcy.

What is Martina Hingis’s net worth?

Earnings from tennis

• Prize money: over $24 million in career earnings (WTA)
• Grand Slam bonuses: estimated additional tens of millions from title runs and appearance fees

Endorsements and business ventures

• Sponsorships with Fila, Yonex, and Swiss watch brands (Britannica)
• Investments in real estate and a passion for horse breeding, which she has mentioned in interviews

Current estimated wealth

Various outlets estimate Hingis’s net worth at around $50 million as of 2025. The figure is based on prize money, endorsements, and post-retirement activities. Exact assets are not publicly audited, so the number remains an approximation.

The following table summarizes her Grand Slam titles by discipline.

Despite the uncertainty, her earnings place her among the most financially successful female tennis players of her generation.

Timeline: Martina Hingis’s career and life

• 1980 – Born in Košice, Czechoslovakia (Britannica)
• 1996 – Wins Wimbledon women’s doubles, becoming youngest Grand Slam champion (WTA)
• 1997 – Wins Australian Open singles (youngest Open era champion); reaches world No. 1 (Tennis Majors)
• 2007 – Suspended two years for cocaine use (Tennis Majors)
• 2010 – Marries Harry Kewell (Britannica)
• 2013 – Divorces Kewell (Britannica)
• 2015–2016 – Dominates women’s doubles with Sania Mirza, winning three straight majors (WTA)
• 2017 – Second and final retirement from WTA (WTA)

The timeline underscores how Hingis’s career spanned two distinct chapters: singles dominance and doubles revival.

“I feel like I have achieved everything I wanted in tennis. It’s time to focus on family.”

— Martina Hingis, in a retirement interview (WTA)

“She was the youngest world No. 1 and her playing style revolutionized the women’s game with its intelligence and variety.”

— Britannica biography (Britannica)

“Hingis’s doubles partnership with Sania Mirza was one of the most dominant in history, winning 41 matches in a row at one point.”

— Tennis Majors analysis (Tennis Majors)

Martina Hingis’s journey from teenage prodigy to retired champion is a rare story of reinvention. She exited the tour on her own terms, built a family, and remains connected to the sport through coaching and media. For young tennis players in Switzerland and beyond, her path offers a template: dominate early, adapt through injury, and step away before the game diminishes you. The choice to prioritize family over a late-career grind is one that many athletes admire but few execute as cleanly.

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