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Martina Hingis would like nothing better than to cap her remarkable comeback to the women's circuit by putting her past failings behind her on the red clay of Roland Garros starting Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Swiss player has shot up the rankings from 349th to 15th since her return in January at the Gold Coast after three years retirement following various foot injuries.
She went on to reach the Australian Open quarter-final and has beat top players including Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Venus Williams.
The former world number one captured her 41st title in Rome earlier this month to give her the perfect confidence-booster ahead of the one Grand Slam she has yet to win.
With five Grand Slam wins - three Australian Open, a Wimbledon and the US Open title - Hingis's best finish has been runner-up in 1997 and 1999 despite being the youngest ever junior Grand Slam winner here aged 12 years in 1993.
Her Roland Garros experience has been one of tears and tantrums.
In 1997 she had entered as world number one and favourite only to be hammered 6-4, 6-2 by Iva Majoli who ended the Swiss player's 37-match win streak.
Two years later she was jeered by the crowd when she stormed off after losing to Steffi Graf 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the final.
Hingis battled with the umpire and linesmen, served underarm on match point and had to be persuaded to return to the court by her mother for the trophy presentation.
She feels however that her break has given her a new maturity.
"I've experienced another life. I think that helps me in difficult moments. I know what life is like outside tennis," explained Hingis.
"I've never felt so balanced as now and that probably has made the difference in the matches I've played since my return.
"My training programme is probably stricter now."
"The three most satisfying things for me were my quarter-final in Melbourne, beating Maria Sharapova in Tokyo and my victory in Rome."
Belgian Kim Clijsters, seeded second here, believes that 12th seed Hingis is the player to watch.
"I don't think there is a single player on the circuit who is so precise and has such a capacity to read the game," said Clijsters. "Even after three years break she has pure talent."
But men's world number one Roger Federer feels that it is too soon for his compatriot.
"She's just come back. You need to give her a bit of time. She's certainly not a favourite," he said.
"But what she has achieved is already quite incredible. I'm one of her great fans. I hope that if someone can win the tournament, it's her."
First up will be American Lisa Raymond, a 32-year-old she last played in 2002 and has beaten in six of their seven meetings.
It will however be the first time they meet on clay.
"She plays really well on clay, she has lots of experience, but I hope I'm going to win this first match," said Hingis, who reached the semi-finals on her last visit here in 2001.
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AFP 291056 GMT 05 06
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