Martina Hingis beaten by Agnieszka Radwanska in Fed Cup tie

Fifteen-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis made a courageously impressive return to big-time singles tennis in the Fed Cup on Saturday but was eventually outplayed by Agnieszka Radwanska.

Hingis was persuaded to play her first tour-level singles match for nearly eight years because of injuries in the Switzerland team for the World Group play-off encounter against Poland.

The 34-year-old brought back memories of her heyday in a thrilling 48-minute first set before capitulating 6-4 6-0 to world No 9 Radwanska after 76 enjoyable minutes.

Smiling a lot and clearly enjoying the experience of being back in the spotlight against a player with a similarly attractive style, Hingis played some exhilarating tennis early on but her effort eventually took its toll.

Half a step slower in the second set, she could only win 11 points as Radwanska upped her game to give Poland a 1-0 lead in the tie being played in Zielona Gora.

What was most eye-catching was the way Hingis fought in the opening set, twice coming back from a break down to level the scores until the pressure exerted by Radwanska finally told.

Hingis, who only plays doubles on tour those days, was making a Fed Cup return for the first time since the 1998 final because she has to play in the competition to qualify for next year's Olympics.

Radwanska's younger sister Urszula later lost 6-2 6-1 to Timea Bacsinszky as it finished 1-1 after the opening day of the tie.

Hingis said she has no plans of returning to play singles on the women's tour despite her courageous performance against Radwanska.

"The possibility is always there but I know previously I'm not prepared to do this," she said. "That's why I decided to play here because I know it's only over two days so that it's not something I shouldn't be able to manage.              

"But to play week after week and five days in a row in a tournament, I know right now I'm not in the shape or capable of doing this."

Hingis said she would do whatever it took to play two matches on Sunday if needed - a singles against Urszula Radwanska and a doubles - to help Switzerland win in her first Fed Cup tie for 17 years.           

"I will have three days off afterwards so it doesn't matter if I have to go those three days in hospital!" she added.