(Reuters) - The last time Martina Hingis appeared in the Fed Cup for Switzerland she was a 17-year-old four-times grand slam champion with the world at her feet.
Half a lifetime later, aged 34, she returns to the team competition this weekend in a World Group playoff tie in Poland having re-launched her career as a doubles specialist and with half an eye on next year's Rio Olympics.
It would have seemed improbable at the Fed Cup final in 1998 against Spain, which the Swiss lost 3-2, that Hingis's best days were already behind her.
She had been world number one for well over a year and more grand slam singles titles seemed inevitable.