Martina Hingis, the top-ranked female tennis player, celebrates her 18th birthday today and fast cars are on her mind. And soccer matches.

``Turning 18 is a new stage. I've been waiting for it,'' Hingis said.

I won Filderstadt before, where I got a porsche. It's staying at home in the garage. I can't drive it.

Now, if you turn 18, I'm able to drive those cars. I don't need anybody else from my family to drive me. I'm able to move more freely,'' she said in Munich, where Hingis is competing at the Grand Slam Cup.

Apart from that, I will continue going to the tournaments with my mom to coach me.

I think you certainly get more independent. You can take decisions on your own. But nevertheless, I'm not going to believe that now I'm 18 and I can decide everything without asking or consulting my mother and my team,'' Hingis said.

Hingis is coached by her mother, Melanie Molitor, who usually accompanies her at tournaments.

``Before, my motherhad to sign when I was asked to sign something. Now I can sign on my own.'' Hingis could pick up another brand new Porsche next week in Filderstadt, Germany, where the car company is the main sponsor.

But Hingis could also lose her No. 1 ranking, which she has held since March 31, 1997. After winning three of the four Grand Slam tournaments last year (Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open) and reaching the final of the French Open, Hingis captured only one this year-- the first one in Australia.

Since then, she has won only three more titles, at Indian Wells, Hamburg and Rome, and she is being challenged by Lindsay Davenport, who beat her in the US Open final earlier this month.

Her tournament singles record is 54-10, and she has been beaten three times by Davenport, and twice each by Venus Williams and Monica Seles.

Davenport is now only 26 points behind in the rankings and could capture the No. 1 spot in Filderstadt.

But right now, Hingis is too busy celebrating to worry about the ranking.

Oneof her German sponsors (Opel) is preparing ``something big, something special,'' which could result in another car.

``I don't know, it may be a big media hype.''

``I want to see the soccer match tomorrow night against Manchester United,'' Hingis said.

The Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United is being played next door to the tennis hall at the Olympic Stadium.

``I will definitely be there,'' Hingis said. ``Maybe on Thursday I will have the opportunity to have a quick look at the Oktoberfest.''

And just in case she runs out of pocket money while trying out the beer and the bavarian wurst, Hingis could end her week in Munich earning $800,000-- the first-place prize for women at the lucrative Grand Slam Cup after three matches.

Just by clearing the first hurdle, a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Conchita Martinez on Tuesday, earned Hingis at least $200,000. ``It's really a great tournament I would say. There are no points to win so you can really have fun playing,'' Hingissaid. ``Of course, there's always the money, which isn't bad for three matches.''