| FILDERSTADT, Germany (Reuters) - Martina Hingis may need surgery on damaged ligaments after spraining her ankle in the semifinal of the Filderstadt Grand Prix Saturday and could be out of action for six weeks.
If so, Hingis would miss the remainder of the season, including the year-ending WTA Championship in Munich.
Organizers of the Swisscomm Challenge tournament in Zurich, starting Monday, said on their Web site that Hingis, who will be overtaken by Jennifer Capriati at the top of WTA rankings next week, had been examined by her doctor, Heinz Buehlmann, on Saturday.
Buehlmann advised Hingis to have surgery as early as Sunday to repair torn ligaments on her right ankle and said she was expected to remain sidelined for six weeks, which means she could not recapture the No. 1 spot this year.
Hingis was trailing American Lindsay Davenport 2-1 in Filderstadt when she had to retire after twisting her ankle.
The 21-year-old Swiss, who had to reach the final to retain top spot, will lose the number one position she had held for 73 consecutive weeks to Capriati when the latest WTA rankings are released Monday. | 