Five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, who retired from professional tennis a few days ago because she did "not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities" following her positive test for cocaine at this year's Wimbledon, eventually decided to hire an experienced London-based lawyer to help her in a battle to clear her name.

Anti-doping officials are surprised by Hingis’ decision to disclose the cocaine charge because any athlete charged with a drugs offence is guaranteed anonymity until he or she is found guilty. Therefore, if Hingis hadn’t said it herself, she would have avoided all this fuss.

"The attorney and his experts discovered various inconsistencies with the urine sample that was taken during Wimbledon," said former world No.1 Hingis.

"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was tested for cocaine actually came from me." (source: Telegraph, photo via BBC)

Former world number one Martina Hingis retired from tennis on Thursday after her announcement that she tested positive for cocaine at this year's Wimbledon. The WTA Tour, however, focuses on Hingis’ great results as long as they are not certain that she is guilty.

"The WTA Tour has not received any official information… and as a result we are not in a position to comment on the matter," said CEO Larry Scott after Hingis' media conference.

Scott said the Tour had a "zero tolerance policy when it comes to doping in sport" before praising Hingis’ successful tennis career.

"With respect to her retirement announcement, Martina Hingis is a tremendous champion and a fan favourite the world over. In her most recent comeback, she proved again that she can perform at the very highest levels of the game."

"Martina will always be respected for not only having achieved the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour world number one ranking, her five Grand Slam singles titles, nine Grand Slam women's doubles titles and two Sony Ericsson Championships titles, but just as much for her incredible touch, on-court intelligence and off-court professionalism."

Former world number one Martina Hingis retires from professional tennis for the second time in her career due to a string of injuries and health-related problems. However, the shocking fact that she is accused for testing positive for cocaine will most certainly make her miss the sport less.

"The fact is that it is more and more difficult for me, physically, to keep playing at the top of the game. And frankly, accusations such as these don’t exactly provide me with motivation to even make another attempt to do so," said the 27-year-old Hingis. Read more »

Former world number one Martina Hingis has called an early end to her 2007 season after failing to recover from a hip injury. The season has been predominantly unsatisfactory for the five-time singles Grand Slam champion; she won only one title, the Toray Pan Pacific Open in February.

The Swiss tennis star was hoping to be able to compete in the next week’s Zurich Open, but unfortunately, she was forced to pull out because of the injury.

"I'm very disappointed that I have to withdraw from the Zurich Open," Hingis said.

"I've done everything I can to be able to compete, but since Key Biscayne I've had problems with my hip which are stopping me from playing any more tournaments this year and even from practicing properly."

Hingis’ statement that she’ll take "as much time as it needs to get fully fit again" has led to speculation in the Swiss media that she may be about to retire again. (via ESPN)

Before flying back home, Martina Hingis attended the BCBG – Max Azria 2008 spring/summer show. The Swiss tennis star was photographed with singer Natasha Bedingfield and Nigel Barker from 'America's Next Top Model'.

Hingis lost to Belorussian Victoria Azarenka in the third round of the US Open 2007. (source: Tennis Served Fresh)

I can’t believe it! Just when I thought that Hingis was the driving-force of Stepanek’s fantastic form and spectacular results (the Czech plays better than ever, as if he’s in top 10!), I hear that they have broken off their engagement. What a disappointment!

"Radek asked me to pass on a message announcing that he and Martina Hingis have split up, they will remain good friends," a spokesman for the ATP said on Saturday.

The pair became engaged last November when Stepanek proposed to Hingis in Prague. (via Reuters, photo via: ACE 2007 > tennis)

Rogers Cup is doomed! The list of withdrawals is getting longer every day. The latest stars to cancel their appearance in Canada are Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza. The Swiss former world number one has withdrawn due to a sore hip and back, while the rising Indian star cited personal reasons. (via Tennis Magazine)

Amelie Mauresmo, Venus Williams and Nicole Vaidisova have pulled out earlier this week.

World No. 11 Martina Hingis will play two warm-up events before the US Open, final Grand Slam of the year.

The first hard-court tournament she’ll play will be the $1,340,000 Acura Classic in San Diego which starts on July 30th. Hingis reached the quarterfinals here last year and won the event in 1997 and 1999.

Martina will then take one week off and after that short break she’ll play another Tier I event, this time Rogers Cup presented by American Express in Toronto. This event switches each year between Toronto and Montreal and last year Martina reached the final where she lost to impressive Ana Ivanovic. Martina won this event in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

After these US Open tune-ups Hingis will take another week off to prepare for the Grand Slam she won in 1997. Last year Hingis was not successful at the hard-courts of the US Open losing to Virginie Razzano in the second round. (via martinaworld)