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
You know, I definitely am taking home some really nice memories, especially from the match against Serena. It was something very special for me.
Definitely I felt like I always played well in Tokyo, I like the fast speed of the ball, it's very similar to grass.
I wasn't aggressive enough in the first set, so after that, I told myself to hang in there and wait for my shots. I definitely feel like I always play well in Tokyo, and I think I'm off to a good start this week. I love the court here. I like the speed. It's like grass, which is my favorite surface.
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.
But I definitely feel like grass suits my game, as well, and I feel like probably if I could pick a surface, it would be grass to play her on.
It was a great time here in the States this year, and definitely I feel like I'm playing well again. I gained a lot of confidence in the last couple of weeks, and I just have to, you know, keep going and keep the momentum now.
It is pretty unlucky she could not continue. Winning like this is no fun.
I think we all know how well she can really play. But to her credit, I thought she kept fighting until the end.
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.
I was very pleased with the way I played today because Lisa is very tough to play indoors,
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.