Switzerland's Martina Hingis smiles during a news conference for the Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament in Tokyo January 30, 2007. [Reuters]

Though not normally one to make snap decisions, Martina Hingis said on Tuesday that she had accepted her fiance's engagement ring in seconds.

The Swiss former world number one said she had agonised over whether to come back to the game last year after three years away, but had slipped on an engagement ring from Czech player Radek Stepanek with alacrity.

"That was my decision to come back, so that was the longer process thinking whether I should commit myself or not," beamed Hingis, sporting a gleaming diamond ring.

"But with the engagement I only had to stretch out my hand and say 'Yes I'll take it'. It wasn't really my decision.

"I mean, I was happy that it happened but I think somebody else had to do a little bit more thinking than myself."

Hingis, 26, is playing in this week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she is bidding to win a record fifth title