Five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday along with Ion Tiriac, Charlie Pasarell, and Cliff Drysdale, says she was only overtaken by nerves once in a major final, at the 1997 U.S. Open against Venus Williams. Hingis won the match in straight sets, which was her third Grand Slam title that year.
“Playing Venus in the U.S. Open, we were the youngest finalists in that match,” she said. “It was the only time I was nervous. I couldn’t sleep. I felt like I want to go out there and play and have it behind me.”