Hingis's situation is different to most as she is still involved in a legal battle with shoe manufacturers Sergio Tacchini after alleging that their shoes damaged her feet.
Tennis has always claimed victims with injury the major danger although players such as Andrea Jaeger, Tracey Austin and Jennifer Capriati, before her comeback, left the game because of intense pressure and expectation.
Dealing with the physical and mental demands of the game requires great personal fortitude, understanding parents and a coach who knows when to stop a player taking the court injured.
Alan Jones coached former British star Jo Durie to No 5 in the world and helped her fight back from wrist, back and knee operations during her career.
They are now both coaching at the Lawn Tennis Association's Regional Centre in Welwyn where Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha - two of Britain's brightest hopes in the women's game - are based.
Jones's vast experience allows him to bring some perspective to the debate.
He said: "Because this is Hingis we are talking about, there is a real issue to deal with. Historically, there has been a graveyard full of players who have suffered mental and physical problems in the game.
"Jo had a wrist operation at 19, major back surgery a year later before she became No 5 in the world and then three knee operations on one leg and one on the other.
"I'd like to think that we all stayed sane during that period because we had a common mission and every sport has injury dangers - just look at our World Cup footballers.
"We are now in the position where one of the greatest players may have her career curtailed by injury but you cannot just deal with the physical aspect of this because there are mental scars to be taken into consideration.
"Capriati had to overcome a mental scar before she could come back into tennis and this mental pressure is still a factor in modern sport."
Jones is under pressure because British women's tennis cannot match the success of Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Martin Lee in the men's rankings. Baltacha is 223 in the world with Keothavong 277 and there is no imminent sign of these players moving inside the all-important top 100.
"Elena and Anne came to us at 15 years old and so their journey starts a little later than most and they haven't hit the millions of tennis balls the other girls have," added Jones.
"They are playing catch-up on the mental strengths you develop from winning early and the hours of practice to improve technique and training routines.
"We are having to deal with their rankings which don't satisfy the thirst for British success in the women's game but if all goes well, they may have good careers from 21 onwards when others may have been forced to stop.
"The toll that hard courts take on the body must be a factor as well because the increased use of acrylic surfaces creates more stress on the limbs.
"It's only 25 years since we were playing three of the Slams and the tournaments around them on grass, which like clay, is easier on your legs and back. There's no forgiveness on a hard court.
"I never want a player to go on court injured and some do take the attitude: 'Well, I didn't want to tell you...' because they are almost protective about the injury even with the people they work alongside."
For aspiring players like Baltacha and Keothavong, the Hingis situation will be a warning they cannot afford to ignore and it will be up to coaches like Jones to ensure they stay fit.
"I fear for Hingis and what price do you pay for success? We are dealing with humans here, not robots," he said.
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