A Dream Team?

International News  |  Roger Federer has not played doubles at a major since 2004. His country woman, Martina Hingis, twice retired from competitive tennis, has her sights set on earning a mixed doubles berth into next summer's London Olympics. The Olympic tennis event is being staged on the grass courts of Wimbledon, and both Swiss players could compete for the gold.

According to a report from Melbourne's Herald Sun, Hingis will make a return to Grand Slam competition early in the new year to play mixed doubles with Federer at the Australian Open. The 30-year old Hingis has not played a Grand Slam since the 2007 U.S. Open. The former World No. 1 won five Grand Slam singles titles and is also a 9 times Grand Slam doubles champion. Hingis retired from the sport at 22 due to a chronic ankle problem. She returned in 2006 and played for two seasons. She retired again in 2007 after revealing she had tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon the same year.

Although she was rumoured to be back on tour last year, she continued playing a number of exhibition matches as well as World Team Tennis for the New York Sportimes for the past two seasons. This report in the Australian newspaper does not make an official confirmation, and according to the eligibility rules for the Olympics, Hingis must accumulate some rankings points to have a chance to play in London.

It's clear Federer, the 2008 Olympic men's double champion, wants to add another Olympic gold medal to his collection. This sounds like a dream team in the making, but can these two 30 year old players come together and make it happen?

EDIT: Federer and Hingis' names are not on the mixed doubles draw. But the dream is not over yet... there are two more opportunities to do it before the Olympics Games. At the French Open and at Wimbledon!