Former world number one Martina Hingis slumped to defeat on her comeback after two years out with an ankle injury on Tuesday and said she had "no plans" to play in any other tournaments.

The 24-year-old Swiss lost 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Germany's Marlene Weingartner in the first round of the Thailand Open.

Hingis was thought to be using the Thai event as a test for a full-time return but she said: "My life has been very good the last couple of years. I'm very comfortable, and this is really hard work.

"I've never had plans further than this step. Maybe I'll play some exhibitions. That's my plan at the moment. At this point I have no plans to play any more tournaments."

Hingis was seeking a low-key event in which to test her ability to return to the WTA Tour and was on top for the first set against a player ranked 73 in the world.

However, Hingis's service began to deteriorate in the second set and her opponent took advantage of a series of lightweight returns.

At 16, Hingis was on top of the world, the youngest winner of a grand slam last century, the youngest world number one and the holder of the Australian, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles.

She compensated for her lack of height with superb court craft, great timing and an indomitable will.

The advent of the powerful Williams sisters punctured Hingis's dominance and her decline began. She won the last of her five grand slam singles titles at the 1999 Australian Open.

Operations on her ankles in October 2001 and May 2002 led her to withdraw from the sport. Before the Pattaya tournament her last match had been in Filderstadt, Germany, in late 2002.

C: Former world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland reacts after losing a shot to Germany's Marlene Weingartner during the first round of the Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya, about 120 km (75 miles) southeast of Bangkok, February 1, 2005. (Reuters)

(Tue Feb 1,10:57 AM By Barry Wood Reuters)