"If my mom wasn't there, I wouldn't have gone back" - When Martina Hingis broke down in tears after brutal French Open booing vs Steffi Graf

Martina Hingis once opened up about the controversy during her French Open final against Steffi Graf. She said the crowd's hostility and the heartbreak of losing left her unsure if she would even attend the trophy ceremony, if not for her mother and coach, Melanie Molitor, who convinced her to go.

The Hingis vs Graf clash at Roland Garros that year had everything. It was a battle between the new and old generations, and fans were eager to see how it would unfold. But for the then-19-year-old, the match soon turned into a nightmare.

It all started in the second set when Hingis crossed the net to question a line call—something that goes against tennis etiquette. She kept arguing with the umpire and even attempted an underarm serve at a critical point, which many viewed as a sign of disrespect.

The French crowd soon turned on the Swiss, booing her loudly as the match went on. After her 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 loss, she left the court in tears and didn’t shake the umpire’s hand.

Martina Hingis later admitted she wouldn’t have returned to the court for the runner-up trophy if her mother hadn’t convinced her. Melanie Molitor reminded her daughter that winning and losing are both part of the game. Even then, the crowd continued to boo her.

“If my mother wasn’t there I wouldn’t have gone back. Come on would you go out there if everyone boos you out?” Hingis told the media after the match.

She added:

“I think I lost my mind. There was so much pressure, and I really wanted to beat her and win the title."

Steffi Graf also later shared her thoughts on the incident, saying she was "surprised" by her opponent's reaction:

"I was surprised she was worrying so much about that point. It’s a game, but I felt that for her it was something more than that.”

Martina Hingis & her mother's professional relationship took a hit after French Open 1999

Martina Hingis and her mother pictured at the 1999 French Open | Image Source: Getty

Martina Hingis began playing tennis at just two years old, coached by her mother, Melanie Molitor. She was her first coach and a constant presence in her career. However, after the controversial 1999 French Open, their professional relationship began to show signs of strain.

At Wimbledon that same year, for the first time since 1994, Molitor wasn’t in her daughter’s box when Hingis suffered a shocking first-round loss to qualifier Jelena Dokic. Then, in April 2001, after the Ericsson Open, she officially split from her mother and decided to continue her career on her own.

After the split, the former World No. 1 struggled with poor results on clay. She soon reunited with Molitor right before the French Open, ending their two-month break. The separation had happened because their personal relationship was strained, and they needed some time apart.