Tennis: Hingis Makes One-off Comeback for Charity

Martina Hingis, the former world No1, is planning to make a one-off return to the WTA tour more than two years after her last professional match.

Hingis, 24, a five-times grand slam champion, is due to play in the £90,000 Pattaya tournament in Thailand starting at the end of January. She plans to raise money for Thai charities that help women and children who have suffered from abuse, homelessness and illness.

"I hope I can raise awareness of the plight of people living in less fortunate and impoverished conditions in Thailand and worldwide," she said.

Although Hingis has never formally announced her retirement, she has repeatedly said the foot problem that forced her to stop in October 2002 would prevent her competing at the top level again.

The seven-times Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras believes his long stint as the world's dominant player could be matched by Roger Federer.

Federer's three grand slam wins this year - taking his overall tally to four - has prompted suggestions he could eventually surpass Sampras's record haul of 14.

"He is the best athlete, the one who moves best on court," Sampras told the French daily L'Equipe. "What's impressive is that he can play at the highest level without using too much energy while his main rivals use a considerable amount.

"He can do just about anything he wants with a racket and he dominates everybody as I did several years before."