I taught Federer how to win titles – Hingis

Roger Federer may have won 17 grand-slam titles during his illustrious career, but Martina Hingis says she helped kickstart his winning habit.

Federer dominated men’s tennis throughout most of the 2000s, winning five consecutive Wimbledon and US Open crowns before completing the career Grand Slam by claiming the 2009 French Open.

The legendary Swiss’ maiden tournament success came at the 2001 Hopman Cup, when he partnered Hingis.

Federer has since gone on to achieve staggering success – and Hingis, perhaps somewhat playfully, has claimed some of the credit for her compatriot’s glory.

“You could always see the talent,” Hingis told The Times of India.

“I tell him I was the one who taught him how to win titles. Before that he played a few finals but didn’t win anything.

“Hopman Cup was his first big title and he has won a few after that, hasn’t he?”