TENNIS News: Former world number one Martina Hingis will make her eagerly-awaited return to competitive tennis at next month's Australian Hardcourt Championships, tournament organisers said yesterday.

Hingis is also expected to play at the Australian Open after organisers promised the 25-year-old a wildcard.

"She's all set for the Open which is great news," Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said.

"Her management knew that she had only to commit to coming to Australia and an Australian Open wildcard would be a formality."

Hingis retired three years ago because of a combination of foot, heel and ankle injuries. She has already accepted a wildcard offer to play the Australian women's hardcourt championships in the first week of January and is likely to play the Sydney International before heading to Melbourne for the grand slam event which starts on January 16th.

"I'm very excited to be making my return to competitive tennis in Australia, I have always felt at home on the Australian courts," the Swiss said in a statement released by Tennis Australia.

"I know I'll get some tough matches and it will allow me to get used to the Australian summer coming from the European winter, both of which will be helpful with my preparation for the Australian Open."

Hingis enjoyed great success at the Australian Open but the tournament holds bitter-sweet memories for her. She won the title in 1997, 1998 and 1999 but was beaten in each of the next three finals.

Her last appearance, in the 2002 final, was especially agonising. On a scorching hot day that sapped her strength, Hingis blew four match points and a 4-0 lead in the second set to hand the title to Jennifer Capriati in one of the greatest turnarounds in grand slam history.

McNamee said Hingis' return to the Australian Open would capture the imagination of the tennis world.

"It's one of those great moments in sport, will the former champion be able to come back and at what level," he said.

"No one will be expecting her to win the tournament but the question is whether she will be able to beat some seeds and make a run through to the second week.

"I certainly believe she still has the capability of being there in the second week but this is the intrigue of sport and we'll find out come January."

Australian hardcourt championship tournament director Liz Smylie said she was thrilled Hingis had chosen to make her return at the Gold Coast event, which will also feature Maria Sharapova.

"Time is definitely on her side and it's an honour for the tournament to host her return to tennis," Smylie said.