Washington: Former world number Martina Hingis hopes to make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open in 2006.
Hingis, who announced earlier this week that she was coming out of retirement after three years out of the game, is considering beginning her comeback at Australian Open warm up tournaments in Hong Kong or Gold Coast, Australia.
"It's going to be great, four more weeks to go probably until I play my first tournament," Hingis said.
Hingis, who won the last of her three Australian Open titles in 1999, said that she would again be able to participate at that level.
Hingis has dropped out of the WTA rankings and needs wild card invitations to play.
Her manager, Mario Widmar, said she would decide in the next eight days where to play her first event.
Hingis, who retired in 2002 after battling foot, heel and ankle problems, said she was willing to 'take the risk' of getting more injuries.
Hingis made a brief comeback in February, losing in the first round of the Volvo Women's Open in Thailand.
Her previous match was at Filderstadt in October 2002, after which she withdrew from all remaining tournaments.
Hingis won 40 singles titles, five Grand Slams, and 36 doubles titles on the WTA Tour. She was only 16-1/2 when she took over the top ranking in March 1997. She spent 209 of the next 247 weeks in the top spot.
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