Beauty: Hantuchová d. Clijsters 6-0 6-0
Flair: Hantuchová d. Clijsters 6-0 6-0
Match: Clijsters d. Hantuchová 6-4 6-2

So Daniela has now done the Grand Slam in third-round exits. She
hasn't reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam since the Australian
Open 2003 (her third quarter-final in a row). I pray her luck will
change with a good draw at Wimbledon.

It was a battle of the walking wounded: Clijsters with her serious
knee-injury (of dubious authenticity, considering her results here),
and Daniela with tendonitis in her right leg.

According to CEEFAX and Teletext (UK), Clijsters had to "dig deep"
to win the first set, but "established her authority" to win it 6-4
after five consecutive breaks. "Hantuchová's resolve seemed to
fizzle out after that", and Clijsters "stepped up a gear" to win the
second set 6-2 on "a baking hot day in Paris".

---------
First set
---------

Hant *__@ @__*_ 4
Clij _*@ @ @* * 6

Started 11:13 CEST.

Daniela serving 0-0: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15, held.
Clijsters serving 0-1: 0/30 -> 40/30, held.

I hope this won't be the first in a long series of missed
opportunities for Daniela.

Daniela serving 1-1: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 40/30, 40/40, ad D,
Deuce #2, ad D, Deuce #3, ad D, Deuce #4, ad D, Deuce #5, ad D,
Deuce #6, ad C (BP), broken.

Oh dear! It's just bl**dy typical that Daniela wastes six game-
points, and loses the game on the first break-point. I know what
it's like to be serving and be able to win every deuce-point but
none of the ad-points - you're serving to opposite sides of the
court, after all.

Clijsters serving 2-1: 0/30 -> 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.

Clijsters isn't the only one able to convert her first break-
point! :-)

Daniela serving 2-2: 0/15, 15/15, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Clijsters serving 3-2: broken to love.
Daniela serving 3-3: broken to love.

This has degenerated into an ugly match of break and counterbreak.
:-|| All five break-points have been converted!

Clijsters serving 4-3: 0/30 -> 40/30, 40/40, ad D (BP), Deuce #2,
ad C, held.

So Clijsters becomes the first to save a break-point and gain the
crucial hold! :-||

Daniela serving to stay in the first set at 3-5: 0/15, 30/15,
30/40 (SP), 40/40, ad D, Deuce #2, ad C (SP #2), Deuce #3, ad D,
Deuce #4, ad D, held.

Two set-points saved - well done Daniela! Now break her once again!

Clijsters serving for the set at 5-4: 0/15, 40/15 (2 SPs),
Clijsters won the first set 6-4 at 12:05 with a forehand winner.

----------
Second set
----------

Hant __*___*_ 2
Clij @* *@* * 6

Daniela serving 0-0: 15/0, 15/40, broken.

Fight, Daniela!

Clijsters serving 1-0: 0/15, 40/15, 40/30, held.
Daniela serving 0-2: 15/0, 15/15, 30/15, 30/30, 40/30, 40/40, ad D,
held.

I wanted Daniela to win that game so badly. I must confess I had
feared a bagel in this set ever since Clijsters held for 5-3 in the
first set. :-o

Clijsters serving 2-1: 0/15, 40/15, held.
Daniela serving 1-3: broken to love.

Has Daniela resigned herself to a breadstick in this set?

Clijsters serving 4-1: 0/15, 15/15, 40/15, 40/30, held.
Daniela serving to stay in the match at 1-5: 0/15, 40/15, 40/30,
held.

Good last resistance from Daniela, but I can't remember a single
match where she survived her opponent serving for it. :-(

Clijsters serving for the match at 5-2: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15 (2 MPs),
Clijsters won 6-4 6-2 at 12:35.

----------
Statistics
----------

Daniela's serve really let her down today: she got 45% of first
serves in, winning only 50% of points when she did so, and 36% of
points on second serve (Clijsters 53%, 71% and 41%). Daniela
committed 5 double faults, Clijsters 4. The statistics also show
that Clijsters served faster than Daniela, particularly on second
serve (144km/h to 130km/h).

Daniela had a poor winner:unforced-error ratio of 19:37, Clijsters
23:29. Daniela broke twice from 3 break-points, Clijsters 5 times
from 7 BPs.

------
Quotes
------

Daniela:
"I've practised with her a billion times, and she proved all the
time to me that she's one of the best players in the world, if not
the best at the moment."

The praise from Clijsters:
"She hit a few really good forehand returns where I thought I hit a
good serve. But she was there. She actually sort of knew that I was
going to go there."

The skinny from Clijsters:
"Daniela's shots on clay are not as strong as on hard courts, and
eventually I got into the rallies, becoming more aggressive. I don't
even feel comfortable moving on this surface. It's going to be
tougher for her. The moment that she hits the second serve, I try to
go to the lines and put her on the back foot. That's when you can be
dominant against her."

The snotty from Clijsters:
"It probably wasn't the best tennis, but you have to keep on
fighting. I'll definitely have to raise my game. I haven't lost a
set so I'm not complaining, but the next match [against Lindsay
Davenport] will be a tough one."

The knee of Clijsters:
"It's holding up during my matches. But, you know, it's still not
good enough to play without the tape, especially not on this surface
yet. But I mean, you know, it's getting better. You know, maybe 85%,
90%."


Daniela's French Open profile:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/bios/ws/wtah394.html

Photos:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://editorial.gettyimages.com/MS_GINS/source/home/home.aspx?pg=1
(search for "hantuchova")

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/danielahantuchova/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/