Melbourne: Five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis on Thursday credited her recent engagement with giving her a more laid back attitude as she travels the world on the women s tennis circuit.

Hingis, 25,who reached the Australian Open third round Thursday, became engaged to fellow tennis pro Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in November after he proposed to the former world number one in Prague.

The Swiss Miss, who had a prickly reputation before her comeback to professional tennis last year after a three-year layoff, said her impending nuptials had given her peace of mind and made life on the tour easier.

"It definitely is," she said.
 

 "I know my private life is balanced and I m happy the way things are going. We both can focus on our games and not have to worry about anything else. We support each other," she said.

"You live a life outside the courts, as well, which sometimes was missing. Now we both know that, okay, we go do our jobs and then next year we can enjoy ourselves," she said.

Belgian Kim Clijsters, who will marry basketballer Bryan Lynch later this year and retire at the end of the season to settle down and start a family, also put her strong form at the Australian Open down to her positive mindset.

"I feel good, I m happy and I think that s the most important thing," she said.

Hingis said she would not presume to offer Clijsters advice on retirement and tell her what she missed most during her own lengthy withdrawal from the game.
"I think she knows the best herself what she might and what she not (miss)," Hingis said.

"She s been talking about it for a while. No, I d just like to see her compete, and if we get to play each other it will be great. I only know her as a player and competitor and great person," she said.