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 was playing well in the first set, then for some reason I decided to make it difficult for myself in the second set. I was able to get back in form and win it. The conditions were very hot but it was the same for both of us.
I felt like I was serving really well, especially in the second set, ... That gave me a lot of easy points. I got on top of her and didn't let her play the way she likes, and I tried to be really aggressive but at the same time not going for really crazy shots.
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.
In the second set I hung in there and waited for my chances. I wanted to be more aggressive.
I made the second set very difficult for myself, but I managed to turn it around in the third. That was the best part of my match.
I'm more mature now. I'm making smarter decisions on the court. I'm more aware of which shot I'm supposed to hit at the right time to win the important points. I served well, especially in the second set. I got a lot of easy points. I was able to dictate against her.
I've been playing really well the whole summer and it's very satisfying to start a tournament like this, ... I missed a few opportunities early in the first set but I just kept going for my shots and tried to stay calm and believe in what I was doing. She serves hard but I felt I was in control and it was just a matter of time.
Are you guys ready for the Williams sisters? ... Yeah! We'll see you on Sunday.
Especially against players like Lindsay, I just can?t afford not to take those chances,
Rome is my most favorite city, so I really enjoy to stay here and the whole tournament.
Congratulations to the great American team for winning this title again. They didn't give us much of a chance there in the mixed.
Well, I think, you know, the university and the high schools are also important, but depends how I'm going to do in tennis - well, I hope. I mean, it depends, so I don't know yet.
That's what I've been always saying, that I was always using the mixed doubles especially to improve my net game and being able to return a guy's serve, 'cause then when you play someone like Serena, you are little bit more prepared for that.
I was not fighting myself at all as I used to.