Former world number one Martina Hingis says she may never play professional tennis again.

The 22-year-old decided to take a break from the game in October because of a lingering foot injury.

She was expected to participate in the Australian Open but withdrew in December.

"It is totally possible that I won't play top tennis again, because my feet will not allow it," Blick newspaper quoted her as saying.

While the top players battle it out in Australia, Hingis says she is happy to take it easy at home.

She says she enjoys the lack of stress and competitive drive in her life and does not miss playing at the first grand slam of the season, which she won in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

"I'm having fun being able to watch the others; how they are running around in the heat on court. When I wake up I always look for the results on teletext. I'm also following the tournament in the papers and watch it on TV every now and then," she says.

"I'm not bored. I've spent the last two months doing lots of sport -- skiing, riding, long walks in the wood with my dog.

"And I'm now going to school. I'm trying to perfect my English. And also, finally, I now have more time for my private life."

Hingis, who dominated the women's game in the late 1990s, had surgery on her ankle last May when two ligaments were replaced and never recovered her best form.

Her tactical game has also been rendered obsolete by the powerful Williams sisters.

"Health-wise I cannot complain and my foot, feet are okay if I don't force it when I'm playing tennis.

"But as soon as I try to train competitively, the pain starts."

Hingis is now number two in Switzerland behind Patty Schnyder.

"It was never my goal to be number one in Switzerland. I wanted to be world number one. And I was for four years.

"I have survived no longer being world number one and I will survive being Swiss number one no longer. And I just don't want to think about a comeback."