Former world number one Martina Hingis [Images] will be offered a wildcard for next year's Australia Open if she wants one, tournament chief executive Paul McNamee said on Wednesday.
Hingis, who won five Grand Slam titles before retiring due to ankle and foot injuries in late 2002, announced on Tuesday she plans to return to professional tennis next year.
McNamee said he had already made informal contact with the 25-year-old's representatives about returning to the year's first Grand Slam from January 16-29.
"First and foremost, it's great for the sport that she's coming back. We just don't know whether it will be in Australia," McNamee told Australian Associated Press.
"She'll be very popular and very welcome, but I know she definitely has not finalised her plans as to when she's returning to the tour.
"She has not made up her own mind yet when she's coming back.
"We're hoping it's Australia but it's not a fait accompli."
Hingis won three titles in Melbourne -- the last in 1999. The Swiss is the third-highest prize money winner in women's tour history behind Steffi Graf [Images] and Martina Navratilova.
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