===========
ASB CLASSIC (Auckland, New Zealand; hard outdoors; WTA Tier IV)
=========== http://www.asbclassic.co.nz/

Daniela made a positive start to 2006, achieving hard-fought
victories over three journeywomen to reach the semi-finals.

Unfortunately she was exhausted the day after a marathon quarter-
final that exceeded three hours, and lost 6-2 6-2 to the delightful
Vera Zvonarëva, who is back to her best after slumping through 2005
with an energy-sapping virus.

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Photos
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1. http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331
2. http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=209605
3. Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

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Videos
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Second-round highlights (Petrova v Dushevina; Hantuchová v Craybas;
Bartoli v Granville; Kirilenko v Azarenka)
http://www.megaupload.com/de/?d=CTAGIOV8

Quarter-final highlights (Hantuchová v Obziler; Zvonarëva v
Kirilenko)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=7000788

Radio discussion of quarter-finals:
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/twondemandthu.htm (17:00-17:15,
17:15-17:30)

Semi-final highlights (Hantuchová v Zvonarëva; Bartoli v Petrova)
http://www.megaupload.com/de/?d=ENRAYODO

Adorable off-court video of Vera Zvonarëva, with brief Daniela
footage, guaranteed to melt away any hatred of Vera that Daniela-
fans may have at this time! ;-)
mms://media.tvnz.co.nz/sport/asb_010106_128k.wmv
(Open URL in Windows Media Player)
or
http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=114D6KOSJBTMT0T9UG3W2DM22T


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First round (Tuesday)
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [2] d. Yulia Beygelzimer [FU], 2-6 6-3 6-2

Daniela made a "sluggish start", going 0-5 down in the first set as
Beygelzimer played aggressive baseline-tennis.

But after dropping the first set, "the 19th-ranked Slovak took
complete control, dominating play with her big serve and flat,
penetrating groundstrokes" [wtatour.com].

From http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/
>>>
Beygelzimer, who won a feeder tournament to claim a place in the
main draw, defied her lowly world ranking of 154 to come out of the
blocks quickest and raced into a 5-0 lead before a stunned Centre
Court crowd.

A stinging forehand and some nifty drop shots bedazzled her
opponent, ranked 17 in the world.

Hantuchová finally found some of her game to pull back to 5-2 but
her opponent closed out the set and looked on course for one of the
biggest upset wins ever at the ASB Classic.

The turning point came in the seventh game of the second set when
Hantuchová finally got a break on Beygelzimer's serve after
squandering a host of opportunities.

After that the challenge of the Ukrainian started to wilt and as
Hantuchová sealed the second set the writing was on the wall when
the Slovakian went 3-0 up in the decider.
<<<

Daniela quotes
--------------

"I just tried to play aggressive, but at the same time not give away
as many easy points as I did in the first set. I focused on my first
serve. I tried to be calmer and patient [after the first set].

"I was just trying to find my game, and in the first set I was
nowhere near it. But I just kept on fighting.

"I felt like I left my game in the locker room, it's always tough
playing the first match of the year. I didn't really know what to
expect from her."


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Second round (Wednesday)
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [2] d. Jill Craybas, 6-3 6-1


Daniela quotes from before the match
------------------------------------

"I have played her a couple of times, but I can't remember how I
did. I know I need to play much better than I did today. I need to
play much more aggressively than I did, and at the same time not
giving away so many easy points. I must try to focus on my serve,
and bring my first-serve percentage up."


Daniela quotes from after the match
-----------------------------------

"I was really glad the way I came out and played, especially after
the way I played yesterday. I felt like I was in control of the
match right from the beginning. I felt like I knew what I was doing
with every single shot, and I was just trying to be a little more
patient and not going for as many crazy shots.

"I felt very happy about my serve today. I felt a lot more confident
today than I did yesterday."


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Quarter-final (Thursday)
-------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [2] d. Tzipora Obziler [Q], 7-5 3-6 7-5

Daniela won the first set from 1-5 down, saving four set-points!

In the third set, Daniela was 2-0 up, but then 3-5 down. She
survived Obziler's attempt to serve for the match at 5-4, saving one
match-point. Daniela needed three match-points to seal victory after
3h01m.

Daniela made 70 unforced errors as Obziler ran down every ball. Her
coach Nigel Sears walked out in (I think) the second set.


Daniela quotes
--------------

"I think I aged ten years. I just tried to hang in there as much as
I could, and I'm just extremely happy that I was able to pull it off.

"She was very solid, and not missing a ball at all. Whenever I gave
her a slow ball, she knew what to do with it, and she was also
reading my shots very well.

"I don't know how I pulled through. She was amazing, I was very
surprised at the level of commitment she showed. Hopefully I will be
a little bit more prepared for my next match, but as I said, I have
to give her all the credit for the way she played.

"I don't remember the last time I played such a long match. It was
very, very frustrating, especially after I got back in the first set
and got on top of it, and I felt like if I kept doing the same thing
as I did from 5-1 down, I could have done it in two sets, but then I
just sort of lost it completely."


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Semi-final (Friday)
----------

+ VERA ZVONARËVA [8] d. DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [2], 6-2 6-2

I had been waiting a long time for this match between Daniela and
Bepa, who are both members of my eternal fanship.

There seemed to be a conspiracy to keep them apart (presumably
because excess moisture can be ruinous to tennis-courts ;-) ), as
whenever they could have played each other, one of them always lost
in the round before - or if they would have met in the first round,
the draw was changed at the last minute.

It promised to be a mouthwatering match - not just because Daniela
is gorgeous while Bepa is ultracute, but also in tennis-terms.

Daniela is one of the most flairsomely talented players on the tour,
with her sharp, thin groundstrokes providing the perfect antidote to
the thick, blunt power of her more muscular contemporaries. As well
as flairsome power, Daniela has exquisite touch, particularly on her
backhand drop-volleys. Her trademark-shot is her backhand down the
line.

Bepa is also a delightfully flairsome groundstroke-artist. She has
amazing retrieval-skills, but also a great deal of power (when in
attacking mode). She is a very versatile player who experiments with
all sorts of tactics, and has beautiful punch-volleys. But her most
impressive attribute is her tremendous fighting-spirit.

Unfortunately Daniela was very tired, far from her best the day
after her three-hour, three-set marathon against #136 Tzipora
Obziler, while Bepa in contrast was on fire, and fresh as a daisy
after her 6-2 6-0 drubbing of #25 Maria Kirilenko.

So, even though Daniela is one of the fittest players on tour, it
was only logical that Bepa would beat Daniela very one-sidedly, and
only my respect for Daniela prevented me from predicting so.


Match-notes
-----------

After a rain-delay, the match started at 12:52 NZDT (Thursday 23:52
GMT). The match was played in swirling wind - another advantage for
Bepa, who is a remarkably adaptable player.

wtatour.com: "Zvonarëva dictated play from the baseline with her
deep, forceful groundstrokes, benefiting from 30 unforced errors
from her weary opponent".

It seems the only part of Bepa's game that was below par was her
serve: ten double faults, and less than 50% of first serves in.
Daniela had 4 break-points, but wasn't able to convert.

But this just shows what a different player Bepa is from last year,
when she was struggling in hot climates due to an energy-sapping
virus, and her serve was very much the barometer of her form.

I did not see the match myself - thanks to waratahsrock of WTAworld
for the scores and point-descriptions:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210988&page=4 onwards


First Set
---------
HANTU __*___*_ 2
ZVONA @* *@* * 6

Daniela serving 0-0: Bepa hit a powerful backhand winner down the
line after a long rally. 0/15. 0/30. Bepa hit a huge error-forcing
forehand return. 0/40 (3 BPs). 15/40. Double fault.

Bepa serving 1-0: Held to 15. Daniela playing badly - lots of
unforced errors.

Daniela serving 0-2: 15/0. Good long rally: Dani attempted dropshot -
hammered away by Bepa forehand. 15/15. Held to 30.

Bepa serving 2-1: Held.

Daniela serving 1-3: 30/40 (BP). Vera is on fire, forcing Daniela to
net a backhand. Double break.

Bepa serving 4-1: 15/0. Good rally, ending with a brilliant backhand
winner down the line from Bepa. 30/0. And another brilliant BH DTL.
40/0. Game. Bepa's pace and consistency is troubling Daniela.

But it's not over yet - Daniela won the first set against Obziler
from 1-5 down! But with all due respect to Obziler, Bepa is a
different class of opponent altogether.

Daniela serving to stay in the first set at 1-5: Bepa backhand
return-winner. 0/15. Held to 30.

Bepa serving for the first set: Forehand return long. 15/0. Bepa
went for a forehand winner but netted it. 15/15. Double fault.
15/30. Crosscourt forehand return-winner. 15/40 (2 BPs). Bepa
forehand winner down the line. 30/40. Bepa crosscourt backhand
winner - Daniela left it but it clipped the line. 40/40. Daniela
forehand return long. Ad Bepa (SP #1). Double fault - Bepa shriek!
Deuce #2. Daniela forehand wide. Ad Bepa (SP #2). Forehand return
wide - Bepa won the first set 6-2 at 13:22 (30m).


Second Set
----------
HANTU * *_____ 2
ZVONA _* *@*@* 6

Daniela serving 0-0: 15/0. Bepa hit a swinging backhand volley-
winner. 15/15. Daniela forehand winner down the line. 30/15. Daniela
backhand dropshot falls a metre short of the net! 30/30. Held to 30.

Bepa serving 0-1: Double fault. 0/15. 0/30. Bepa changed her racket,
and hit an ace. 15/30. Double fault. 15/40 (2 BPs). Daniela long x
2. 40/40. Bepa forehand drive-volley winner down the line. Ad Bepa.
Game.

Daniela missed a big opportunity to change the momentum there.

Daniela serving 1-1: 0/15. Bepa backhand volley-winner. 0/30.
Daniela backhand volley-winner. 15/30. Great angles from Bepa to
force error. 15/40 (2 BPs). Forehand return long. 30/40. Bepa went
for a backhand down the line, but it was just wide. Bepa getting
angry! 40/40. Daniela held with two service-winners.

Bepa serving 1-2: Bepa forehand winner down the line. 15/0. 15/15.
Double fault. 15/30. Ace (Daniela forehand airshot). 30/30. 40/30.
Starting to rain? Double fault. 40/40. Ad Bepa. Deuce #2. Ad Bepa.
Game.

Daniela serving 2-2: 0/30. Good rally: Daniela crosscourt forehand
winner. 15/30. 30/30. Bepa talking to herself, swinging arms around.
30/40 (BP). Bepa netted a forehand. 40/40. Bepa crosscourt backhand
winner. Ad Bepa (BP #2). Daniela netted a backhand dropshot - Bepa
breaks!

Bepa serving 3-2: 15/0. Bepa forehand winner down the line. 30/0.
Daniela crosscourt forehand return-winner. 30/15. 30/30. 40/30. Bepa
forehand winner down the line.

Winners to unforced errors:
Bepa 16:14, Daniela 5:24. Bepa has amazing retrieval-skills as well
as power.

Daniela serving 2-4: Daniela nets what should have been an easy
crosscourt forehand winner. 0/15. 0/30. 15/30. 15/40 (2 BPs).
Daniela misses what should have been an easy backhand winner to give
Bepa the double break.

Bepa serving for the match at 5-2: Daniela forehand winner. 0/15.
Dani limp backhand falls a couple of metres short of the net. 15/15.
Ace. 30/15. Daniela netted a backhand. 40/15 (2 MPs). Daniela
forehand return long by metres. Bepa won 6-2 6-2 at 14:00 (1h08m).


Bepa quotes
-----------

Bepa's on-court interview (not her exact words):
"The swirling wind was frustrating, but I'm really pleased to be in
the final after last season's frustrations. I'm off to prepare for
my doubles-match!"

Quotes from Bepa's press-conference:
"It maybe looked comfortable from the side, but I think it was a
really tough match no matter what the scoreboard says.

"I'm really happy with my game, especially with the kind of
conditions we had today. The wind wasn't as strong as it has been,
but it was changing direction all the time, and it was really
difficult to play beautiful tennis. You just had to hang in there.

"It has certainly improved since my last match last season. I am
starting to feel better about my game.

"Tomorrow is a different day and we will just have to see."


Daniela quotes
--------------

"I didn't really feel good at all. I was really struggling with the
wind today, and Vera dealt with it a lot better today. I am sure
that energy levels played a part, because she had an easy match
yesterday.

"The conditions were very tough, and Vera just dealt with it much
better. I think if she plays like this, there's no reason she can't
get back to the Top 10. She's got a great game because there's not
much that can really go wrong, as she's very solid from both sides.

"She is just playing very well. I think if she plays like this, then
there is no reason she won't."

--
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/