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 have so much respect for the way she plays, ... I just tried to keep fighting for every point. I went for my shots and it paid off.
I must say I am much more aware of what I am doing on the court now, ... When I was in (the) Top 10, everything was easy for me. I had nothing to lose. I was just swinging at the ball and had fun -- there was no pressure. Definitely now I am more mature and making much smarter decisions on the court.
I feel fantastic. It's something really special. It means a lot to me. Now I guess I can concentrate on my singles career, especially having a partner like Mahesh, it makes it even more special.
So many times in my matches, especially when I was coming up and I was really, really young and not having the experience, I was sometimes beating myself and not really playing the opponent.
It was really difficult out there and I just tried to make sure I put as many balls as possible in court, and not go for too many crazy shots or go for the lines
There were a lot of points where if I could have won those, it would have made a difference, and who knows what would happen in the third set?
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.
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.
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.
Yeah, I think there are many other important things in life, not just tennis.
Well, actually I don't care what surface I'm playing on.
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 guess the attention paid to appearance is something that belongs to tennis too.
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.