Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchováis a Slovak tennis player. She turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first WTA tournament, the Indian Wells Masters, defeating Martina Hingis in the final and becoming the lowest-ranked player to ever win the tournament. She also reached the quarterfinals of that year's Wimbledon Championship and US Open, ending the year in the top 10. She was part of the Slovak team that won the 2002 Fed Cup and the...
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth23 April 1983
CityPoprad, Slovakia
I really enjoyed every minute of it. I mean, I've learned so much in the last week, I mean, just the way to play a real, real doubles. It was a great experience for me, and we had a lot of fun.
It's been one of the most important things for me that I have gained experience and know better what to do at crucial times.
It was a match I lost, rather than she won [on Serena Williams winning with an apparent cramp injury at Wimbledon
I mean, it's been quite busy, especially with the rain delay the first few days, and then having to play the late evenings, waiting here every day. It's been kind of difficult.
As I said this year, I didn't try to put any pressure on me by setting high goals or anything, I just want to make sure that every single time I'm out there on the court I do my best, I give 100%, and see where it's going to end up next year.
I guess the attention paid to appearance is something that belongs to tennis too.
I mean, every single time I was there with Mahesh, I just tried to learn something of his game, because he's, you know, one of the best doubles players that's been around ever.
I'm visiting my high school. Every half year I do the exams, and then this year I'm going to graduate.
Well, actually I don't care what surface I'm playing on.
Yeah, I think there are many other important things in life, not just tennis.
But just maybe sometimes being even more patient. Even though I thought I did that much better this year, and sometimes, you know, make my opponents play that one extra ball, and just knowing how to play the big points better.
I started when I was six years old. My first coach was my granny, she was the best player in Slovakia.
You have to hit like 10 winners before you get a point because she gets every single ball back. When you give it away, it kills me and that's where I lost my head at the beginning of the second set.
With her I knew I didn't have to go for it too much. There's no pressure on me and I can just work on my game. I can enjoy myself on the court with no expectations.