================
QATAR TOTAL OPEN (Doha, Qatar; outdoor hard; WTA Tier II)
================ http://www.qatartennis.org/qatartotalopen/
Photos
------

On-court:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Off-court:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=208809&page=7

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

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] d. Kveta Peschke, 7-6 (7/4) 5-7 6-1

A 2h48m marathon for Daniela against the hard-hitting 30-year-old
Czech. Daniela hit 8 aces, and should have closed it out in two sets
as she was a set and a break up.

In the first set, Peschke "struggled with a weak serve initially"
[AP]. Daniela broke for *4-3, but was broken back to 4-4* before
winning it on the tiebreak.

Peschke won the second set by two breaks to one, but Daniela won the
last five games of the final set.

Daniela really needs to stop making such a meal of beating players
outside the top 32.


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

"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.

"All credit to Kveta because she played a good match, and I am
relieved to be in the second round. The match could have gone either
way, but after she won the second set I decided to step up my game.

"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. How
I turned around the match in my favour gave me a lot of
satisfaction. At the moment, I am pleased about my game.

"Kveta is an experienced player so I was expecting it to be a tough
match. I was ready to battle out against her. I can say that I made
the match difficult for myself with some careless shots."

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

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] lt. Li,Na, 7-6 (7/4) 5-7 6-1

I wasn't surprised when I saw this result, just one day after
Daniela's 2h48m marathon. Daniela is immensely fit (in both senses
of the word), but she's not Justine Henin-Hardenne when it comes to
recovering for the next day.

Daniela blew a lead of 6-4 *5-1 (40/15), wasting two /more/ match-
points when she served for it again at *5-3!

Daniela's year started so promisingly in Australia, but she's now
lost four times in a row in the second round (without byes), just as
she did between Rome and Wimbledon 2003, culminating in that tearful
loss to Shinobu Asagoe after leading 5-2* in the third set and
missing three match-points.

The difference now is that Daniela is older and more philosophical
than when she was 20 and struggling to hold onto a place in the top
ten. She's doing worse in all the post-AO tournaments than she did
last year, but now I believe she has the emotional maturity to
manage a slump better than in 2003.


In the 1990s there was a beautiful and flairsome Czech player called
Jana Novotná. She too suffered a famous choke at Wimbledon, crying
on the Duchess of Kent's shoulder after blowing a *4-1 (40/30) lead
in the third set of the 1993 final. She also managed to lose a 3r
match at the French Open 1995 after leading 5-0* (40/0) in the third
set and missing /nine/ match-points!

But there was enough justice in the world for Jana to end up winning
Wimbledon 1998 - her first Grand Slam singles-title, at the age of
29.

-------
Doubles
-------

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [3]:
1r + Julia Schruff/Roberta Vinci, 6-2 6-3
qf + Jelena Jankovic/Selima Sfar, 7-6 (7/5) 6-1
sf + YAN,ZI/ZHENG,JIE [2], 3-6 6-2 6-0
  f + Li,Ting/Sun,Tiantian, 6-4 6-4

This is the seventh WTA doubles-title of Daniela's career. Yan/Zheng
are the Australian Open champions, and Li/Sun the Athens 2004
Olympic champions!

Daniela isn't on the commitments for Indian Wells, and although
there is talk that she might take a late wild card into the
tournament, it looks like her next tournament will be Miami (22nd
March - 2nd April).

I'm disappointed that Daniela doesn't want to return to the scene of
her greatest triumph - her lone WTA singles-title coming at Indian
Wells 2002 with a coruscating 6-3 6-4 victory over Martina Hingis in
the final. But she has a poor win/loss record of 3-3 at Indian Wells
2003-2005.

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

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

I have completed my extended report of Daniela's matches at the
Australian Open 2006:
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/reports.html

The extended fourth-round report contains a blow-by-blow description
of every point in the match against Maria Sharapova, and some
interesting quotes from the commentators.

Maria-fans should read the Maria-variant of this report instead,
because it adds an extra interview that has nothing in particular to
do with Daniela:
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/shara/reports.html

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

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

============================
DUBAI DUTY FREE WOMEN'S OPEN
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates; outdoor hard; WTA Tier II)
============================ http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/
Photos
------

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/photogallery/ (select "Dubai")

-----------
First round (Monday)
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8] d. Li,Na, 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7/4)

An "error-strewn win" according to the Associated Press. Daniela
needs to be beating this class of opponent (Li is ranked #67) in
straight sets if she's going to push on back into the top ten.

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

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8] lt. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 3-6 6-1 7-5

Daniela is ranked #14 to Kuznetsova's #15, but Kuznetsova seems to
play better in tight situations, having beaten Daniela in the
Eastbourne 2004 final after Daniela had served for the match at 6-2
*6-5 (30/30), and gone on to win the US Open that year.

The manly Kuznetsova served huge, with 14 aces (the last on match-
point), but had trouble converting break-points against Daniela. The
third set went with serve, Daniela serving first and having a 5-4*
lead. Unfortunately Kuznetsova scored the vital break at 5-5, and
the rest is history.

-------
Doubles
-------

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [3]:
1r + Henrieta Nagyová/Mashona Washington, 6-4 6-3
qf + Sania Mirza/María Vento-Kabchi, 6-3 6-2
sf - Svetlana Kuznetsova/Nadia Petrova, 6-4 2-6 6-4

Once again, Kuznetsova does the dirty deed! :-||


================
QATAR TOTAL OPEN (Doha, Qatar; outdoor hard; WTA Tier II)
================ http://www.qatartennis.org/qatartotalopen/
First-round draw
----------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] v Kveta Peschke
* Vera Zvonarëva v Li,Na

We could have another mouthwatering Daniela v Bepa match in the
second round here. I'm pretty confident of Daniela beating Peschke,
who lost 6-2 6-1 to Obata at Tokyo and 6-1 6-1 to Razzano at Paris,
and pulled out of Antwerp with a right-wrist sprain after beating
Karolina Šprem 6-1 6-2.

I'm more worried about Bepa keeping up her end of the bargain.
Although Li is on a three-match losing-streak, Bepa is on a five-
match losing-streak, and Li gave Daniela such a torrid time at Dubai.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/ (added 2 external
links)

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

I have started my extended report of Daniela's matches at the
Australian Open 2006:
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/reports.html

The first- and second-round reports are essentially just the reports
I posted here at the time (not having seen those matches myself),
but the third-round report now contains a blow-by-blow description
of every point in the match against Serena Williams, and a
transcript of Daniela's on-court interview.

I plan to write up Daniela's fourth-round match with Maria Sharapova
next week.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/ (added 2 external
links)

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

======================
PROXIMUS DIAMOND GAMES
(Antwerp, Belgium; indoor Decoturf; WTA Tier II)
======================
Photos
------

First round: Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Second round:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=14

Off-court:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=208809&page=6

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

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [9] d. Zuzana Ondrášková [LL], 6-1 6-0

It took just 49 minutes.

------------
Second round (Thursday)
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [9] lt. Olga Savchuk [Q], 6-4 6-3

A shocking result, as I thought Daniela's passage to the quarter-
finals would be a formality against the world #115, especially with
the confidence Daniela is supposed to have derived from knocking
Serena Williams out of the Australian Open, and winning her first-
round match so easily.

Savchuk is an 18-year-old who reached her highest-ever ranking
(#115) this week, and has just reached her first-ever Tier II (or
higher) quarter-final (her only previous WTA Tour quarter-final was
at Tier IV Tashkent 2004). She had never beaten a current top-20
player until Daniela (#14), and I didn't even know what she looked
like until today.

The media just say things like Savchuk "completely outplayed"
Daniela, and "had too much" for her - despite Savchuk's first-round
match (a 2-6 7-5 7-5 win over Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro) only finishing
around 1am on Thursday morning!

From what I've read on General Messages at WTAworld.com, Daniela
just played a very bad match:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=220620


Her next tournament will be Doha (week of 27th February).

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/ (added 2 external
links)

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

======================
TORAY PAN PACIFIC OPEN (Tokyo, Japan; indoor carpet; WTA Tier I)
====================== http://www.toray-ppo.co.jp/
Photos
------

http://www.danielafrenchsite.com/pictures/index.php?cat=0
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=12
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

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

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6] d. Jelena Jankovic, 2-6 6-4 6-4

Daniela looked to be rushing headlong into humiliation at 2-6 0-2,
and was also 0-3 and 2-4 down in the third set, so... well recovered!

Yahoo! Sports: "Hantuchová struggled in the first set, but after
adjusting to the speed of the indoor carpet, the sixth seed's extra
power and precision saw off Jankovic's challenge."


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

"I wasn't aggressive enough in the first set, so after that, I told
myself to hang in there and wait for my chances. I kept fighting and
tried to be more aggressive and go 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 favourite surface. I always
enjoy coming here, and hopefully this week I'll go a few steps
further in the draw.

"Everyone knows the season is too long. It starts in January and
ends in November. We're still people. We're not robots."


------------
Second round (Thursday)
------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6] lt. Samantha Stosur [Q], 7-6 (7/5) 6-2

A disappointing result, as it denied us a mouthwatering match with
Maria Sharapova in the next round. I would have loved to see Daniela
go all the way at this tournament, as Iva Majoli did in 1996
(beating the great Monica Seles in the quarter-finals and Martina
Hingis in the semis, just as Daniela would have had to do).

But it was I who got to choose whether Daniela and Maria would play
each other at the Australian Open or at Tokyo, and it's certainly
better that they met in a BBC-televised Grand Slam fourth round than
in a Tier I quarter-final! :-)

I saw Stosur play Maria at Birmingham 2005, and she played a blinder
there, even if only to take a set off Maria. With her big serve and
serve-volley game, Stosur is ideally equipped to be a threat at
Tokyo, which has the next-fastest surface to grass.


First Set
---------
HANTU *__@* * * *_ 6(5)
STOSU _*@__* * * * 7(7)

Daniela serving 0-0: saved two break-points before holding.
Stosur serving 0-1: held to 15.
Daniela serving 1-1: broken to 15.
Stosur serving 2-1: broken to 15.
Daniela serving 2-2: held to 15, sealed with an ace.
Stosur serving 2-3: held to 30.
Daniela serving 3-3: held to love.
Stosur serving 3-4: held to love.
Daniela serving 4-4: held to 15.
Stosur serving 4-5: held to 15, sealed with an ace.
Daniela serving 5-5: held after saving break-point (one deuce).
Stosur serving 5-6: held to 30.

6-6 tiebreak: Daniela 2/0*, *2/1, *3/1, 3/2*, 4/2*, *4/3. Daniela
double fault. *4/4; Stosur *5/4, *5/5; Stosur 5/6* (set-point),
Stosur won the first set 7-6 (7/5) in 53 minutes.


Second Set
----------
HANTU @__*____ 2
STOSU _@* *@*@ 6

Stosur serving 0-0: 30/30, broken to 30.
Daniela serving 1-0: saved a break-point, wasted a game-point,
broken after two deuces.
Stosur serving 1-1: held to 15.
Daniela serving 1-2: held to 15.
Stosur serving 2-2: held to 30.
Daniela serving 2-3: 0/30. Ace. 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), 30/40, broken.
Stosur serving 4-2: held to love.
Daniela serving 2-5: 0/40 (3 MPs) -> 40/40, ad D, Deuce #2,
ad S (MP #4), Stosur won the match 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 in 1h25m.

It looks like Daniela put in a respectable performance until
6-7 2-3, but then it all went pear-shaped - just three bad games at
the end of a match that had been almost as close as possible.


-------
Doubles
-------

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [3]:
1r + Tina Krizan/Jennifer Russell, 6-3 6-2
qf - Nicole Pratt/Mara Santangelo, 6-2 3-6 6-3


Daniela's next tournament will be Doha (week of 27th February).

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

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

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Photos
------

Daniela and Maria:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Daniela on-court:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=8

Daniela off-court:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=208809&page=3

Video - Barbara Schett interviews Daniela:
http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/mc_vid23030.shtml


Fans of both players might want to read my joint, uncut report:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/message/3162

------------
Fourth round (Sunday)
------------

+ MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] d. DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17], 6-4 6-4

This was a brilliant match from both players, and the best tennis
that I've seen from Daniela since the Indian Wells 2002 final. No
longer tentative but full of confidence after beating Serena
Williams, Daniela went for her shots and made some spectacular
winners, particularly when 3-4* down in the first set.

But Maria responded with her own winners, and was better in the
decisive moments than Daniela. Maria has an incredible strength of
will - "as mean as a snake", as Martina Hingis once put it. And
Maria is a heavier hitter than Daniela, and a better mover.

Daniela led 2-0 in the first set and 3-0 in the second. Sadly she
picked up a thigh-injury in the second set that required off-court
treatment at 3-2, and while it didn't appear to be too serious,
Daniela just went off the boil enough for Maria to romp into the
quarter-finals without much resistance at the end. Daniela had
deserved a set.

It's good that this match was on the Rod Laver Arena evening-
session, as it was a brutally hot and humid day, with temperatures
up to 44°C outside - the 6th-hottest day ever recorded in Melbourne -
  although with the roof closed and the air-conditioning on, it was
more like 25°C (the ball bounces lower with the roof closed).

But I don't remember seeing such brilliant tennis from two players
against each other since Monica Seles d. Karina Habšudová in 1r
Wimbledon 2000. :-)

Sam Smith commented on how much Daniela's forehand has improved this
year: a cleaner swing and a better strike-position. She criticised
Maria for serving to Daniela's forehand in the deuce-court too much.

Sam Smith said Daniela's intelligence works against her on a tennis-
court, as she tends to overanalyse things rather than playing from
instinct.

Of the previous Maria v Daniela matches that I've seen, Maria was
just too good for Daniela at Wimbledon 2004, and IMO neither of them
played close to their best at Zurich 2004. Their match-ups lack a
contrast of styles, but it's certainly a joy to watch when they're
both hitting winner after winner as they were doing towards the end
of the first set, which was worthy of a Grand Slam final.


In British newspaper _The Daily Telegraph_, Mark Hodgkinson wrote:
>>>
Hantuchová, the world No 17, has previously been known for her
mental frailty on court, but it is understood that she had been
working with a leading sports psychologist, and she has displayed a
tougher approach to her tennis during her run at the Australian Open.

And while strolling the corridors and walkways of Melbourne Park,
her manner and ever-present smile have suggested that she has been
enjoying her time on the tour again.
<<<

According to Sam Smith, Daniela has improved mentally in that she
doesn't beat herself any more. When things start to go wrong, she's
learned to stay in the moment rather than thinking ahead about what
could happen (another important aspect, of course, is not thinking
back to missed opportunities). And it takes a tough, strong-willed
woman to come back as far as Daniela has done from the traumas she
suffered both on and off the court in 2003.

Sam Smith tipped Daniela to return to the top ten.

Apparently, Daniela spent a couple of years at the Nick Bollettieri
academy in Florida, from the age of 16 which I didn't know before
(Maria, of course, has been there since 1994).

Sam Smith said Maria and Daniela were both influential fashion-
icons - that girls in Russia and Slovakia wanted to wear the same as
they do. I hope Maria's maternity-dress won't become the latest
fashion, though - only the slimmest girls would get away with
that! ;-)


First Set
---------
SHARAPOVA __@*@*__@* 6
HANTUCHOV *@____*@__ 4

Daniela won the toss and elected to serve, and the match started on
Rod Laver Arena at 19:43 AEST.

Daniela serving 0-0: Held to love, courtesy of some quick errors
from Maria and a dead netcord. Daniela looked relaxed, and was
playing consistently rather than recklessly, getting a lot of balls
back.

Maria serving 0-1: More errors from Maria and a double fault. 15/40
(2 BPs). Maria hit a good serve out wide, but netted an easy down-
the-line forehand to give first blood to Daniela.

Daniela serving 2-0: Broken to 15 with four errors (the point she
won was a serve down the middle to force a short return, which she
dispatched with a crosscourt forehand winner).

Maria serving 1-2: Held to 15 - errors and a dead netcord.

Daniela serving 2-2: Maria forehand winner. 0/15. Daniela hit a
great serve out wide, followed by an off-backhand dropshot, but
Maria ran it down impressively to hit a crosscourt forehand winner.
0/30. Daniela won the next three points with a service-winner
followed by a couple of errors from Maria after good defensive play
by Daniela. 40/30. Double fault. 40/40. Two forehand errors from
Daniela put Maria up a break.

Maria serving 3-2: Daniela was sparring well, but making errors. She
hit an off-backhand winner down the line at 30/0, and Maria missed a
forehand to make it 30/30. Maria hit an off-forehand to set up a
crosscourt forehand winner, and said "c'mon". 40/30. Maria hit a
crosscourt forehand winner onto the sideline.

Daniela serving 2-4: Maria punished a poor dropshot with a forehand
winner. 0/15. Two service-winners. 30/15. Daniela netted two
backhands. 30/40 (BP). Daniela saved it with a wide serve to force a
short return and set up a crosscourt forehand winner. 40/40. Maria
exposed Daniela's lack of mobility with an aggressive backhand down
the line, forcing Daniela to net a sliced forehand. Advantage Maria
(BP #2). Daniela saved it with a terrific crosscourt backhand
winner. Deuce #2. Two service-winners.

Maria serving 4-3: Brilliant game!
* Daniela hit a forehand return-winner down the line.
* {0/15} Daniela hit a stinging forehand return winner down the
other line.
* {0/30} Maria responded with a backhand winner down the line that
caught the back edge of the sideline.
* {15/30} Daniela hit an aggressive forehand return to set up a
forehand winner down the line.
* {15/40: 2 BPs} Maria saved it with backhand winner down the line.
* {30/40} Daniela wasted it with a forehand return long.
* {40/40} Double fault.
* {Ad D: BP #3} Maria saved it with a good serve to set up an off-
forehand winner.
* {Deuce #2} Maria forehand long.
* {Ad D: BP #4} Maria backhand long.

Daniela serving 4-4: Maria broke to 15 as Daniela made four errors
(the point she won was a service-winner), finishing with a sliced
backhand into the net. "C'mon!" said Maria.

Maria serving for the first set at 5-4:
* Daniela forehand return-winner down the line.
* {0/15} Daniela crosscourt backhand virtual winner.
* {0/30} Maria served down the middle to force a lob from Daniela,
and hit a forehand smash-winner.
* {15/30} Daniela opened up the court nicely for a backhand winner
down the line... and hit it into the net.
* {30/30} Daniela mishit a dropshot-return that made Maria stumble
on her way to hit a forehand; Daniela hit a lob; Maria, running
backwards, hit a forehand smash long.
* {30/40: BP} Maria saved it with an ace out wide, but Daniela
complained that it /was/ wide. The slow-motion replay showed that it
was clearly wide.
* {40/40} Daniela hit a wild backhand wide.
* {Ad M: SP} Maria won the first set 6-4 at 20:28 (45m) with a
service-winner down the middle, and said "c'mon".


Second Set
----------
SHARAPOVA ___*@* *@* 6
HANTUCHOV *@*___*___ 4

Daniela serving 0-0: After errors and a service-winner made it
40/15, Daniela hit a nice angled crosscourt forehand, but Maria used
it against her with a forehand winner down the line. 40/30. Double
fault. 40/40. Daniela hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand. Ad
D. Ace out wide.

Maria serving 0-1: Maria hit a crosscourt forehand to set up a
forehand winner down the line, but a couple of forehand errors
(before and after) made it 15/30. Daniela hit a stunning forehand
winner down the line. 15/40 (2 BPs). Daniela hit a deep forehand
return to draw a netcord from Maria; Daniela hit an error-forcing
crosscourt forehand right into Maria's forehand corner to get the
break.

Daniela serving 2-0: Held to 30 with two service-winners and two
shots wide from Maria (one of Maria's points was a crosscourt
backhand winner).

Maria serving 0-3: Held to 15 with two forehand smash-winners, and
an acute crosscourt backhand that forced Daniela to net a sliced
backhand on the second point. Daniela started stretching her left
thigh between points.

Sam Smith: "Sharapova having to play near her best tennis just to
live in this second set with Hantuchová."

Daniela serving 3-1: With Maria hitting a crosscourt forehand onto
the sideline to set up a forehand drive-volley winner at 15/15,
Daniela was broken to 15 after missing three forehands - one of
which was short and easy.

There was a 9-minute delay while Daniela went off-court for a
medical time-out, during which Maria was hitting practice-serves.
Only 3 minutes are allowed for the actual treatment - the other 6
were taken up with waiting for the trainer to arrive, evaluating the
injury, leaving and reentering the court. Daniela reappeared with
her left thigh strapped.

Maria serving 2-3: Maria tested Daniela's injury with a dropshot,
but Daniela ran it down, hit a crosscourt forehand, and Maria missed
a forehand pass long and wide. 0/15. Daniela off-forehand winner.
0/30. Maria forehand drive-volley winner. 15/30. Maria backhand
long. 15/40 (2 BPs). Maria hit a crosscourt forehand to set up an
error-forcing forehand down the line. 30/40. Daniela wasted the 2nd
BP with a backhand return long. 40/40. Daniela ballooned a forehand
return wide. Ad M. Daniela backhand long.

Daniela serving 3-3: Held to love with two aces down the middle, a
service-winner, and a wide-angled serve to set up a backhand winner
down the line.

Maria serving 3-4: Held to love with an ace out wide, a serve out
wide to set up a crosscourt backhand winner, and two backhand errors
from Daniela.

Daniela serving 4-4: Daniela recovered from 0/15 with a forehand
winner down the line. Maria hit a down-the-line forehand winner to
make it 15/40 (2 BPs). On the 16th stroke of the rally, Maria netted
a forehand. 30/40. On the 16th stroke of this rally, Maria hit an
off-forehand winner behind Daniela to score the vital break.

Maria serving for the match at 5-4:
* Daniela backhand long.
* {15/0} Service-winner down the middle.
* {30/0} Ace out wide.
* {40/0: 3 MPs} Daniela hit a backhand onto the baseline, forcing
Maria to hit a backhand long.
* {40/15: MP #2} Maria served down the middle; Daniela hit a
backhand skyscraper-lob return that landed just inside the sideline;
Maria hit a crosscourt backhand; Daniela hit a forehand winner into
the open space.
* {40/30: MP #3} Service-winner out wide. Maria won 6-4 6-4 at 21:20
(1h37m, including the 9m MTO).


Statistics
----------

Maria got 61% of first serves in, winning 63% of the points when she
did so, and 50% on second serve (Daniela 70%, 58% and 33%). Maria
will need to improve her serve-percentages if Nadia Petrova's serve
will be at its best (Maria did improve them in the second set to
71%, 65% and 63%).

Maria served big, with a fastest serve of 185 km/h (Daniela 175
km/h), average first serve at 170 km/h (Daniela 165 km/h), second
serve 141 km/h for both players.

Both girls hit 3 aces and 2 double faults. Maria won 8 of 10 points
at the net, while Daniela won only 6 of 9, which is a bit
disappointing compared with her previous rounds.

Maria had a W:UE ratio of 25:16, Daniela 16:22. These figures don't
do justice to the best part of the match (the end of the first set
and the beginning of the second), where they both hit plenty of
spectacular winners.

Maria beat Daniela by 66 points to 57 (first set 35-31, second set
31-26).

Maria broke 5 times from 8 break-points, Daniela 3 times from 9 BPs.
And that was the key difference - Daniela actually had one more BP,
but her conversion-rate was only 33% against Maria's 63%.

Daniela really needs to address what happens on break-points against
the opponent as her number-one priority.


Maria quotes
------------

"Today was probably one of the hottest days I've ever experienced in
my life. It was pretty brutal out there."

[Re. approaching peak form]
"Little by little I am. It was good today, I kept my composure when
I was down at the beginning of both of the sets. I just kept calm
and tried to break her, and tried to get the momentum back, and it
went my way in the end.

"I felt like even though I got down those breaks, I still felt like
I was playing pretty well. I thought she was a great returner."

[Re. Daniela's medical time-out]
"I really had to keep my composure and stay in control."


----------------------------
Women's Doubles: Third round
----------------------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] lt.
   GISELA DULKO/MARIA KIRILENKO [10], 6-1 6-1

At least Dulkirilenko are a very pretty team. ;-)

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

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/

Photos:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/wtah394.html
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Videos:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=145909&page=8

-----------
Third round (Friday)
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] d. SERENA WILLIAMS [13], 6-1 7-6 (7/5)

A sweet victory for Daniela against the defending champion - who was
on an Australian Open winning-streak of 16 matches - and her first-
ever victory against a Williams sister.

Daniela derives a lot of confidence from this win - she feels she
has crossed a bridge in her career.

But the fact of the matter is that Serena's performance was
dreadful - not even worthy of a 13th seed. Serena has lost none of
her power, but her loss of physical conditioning manifested itself
in a hail of unforced errors, as she struggled to get herself in
position for her shots, and couldn't seem to trust any of her shots.
Serena didn't even give Daniela a chance to get nervous in the first
set.

Serena was desperately short of match-play, having finished 2005
with a loss to Sun,Tiantian at Beijing in September. Her knee-injury
has prevented her from running and cycling to stay in shape.

At an end Serena's rule is - and not short enough it was. Serena has
won no title since the Australian Open 2005, and will drop from #15
to #39 (ignoring the movements of other players) in the next update
of the WTA Singles Rankings - low enough to be unseeded at the
French Open if she doesn't get back in shape. And with outside
interests threatening to take over her life, she may not have the
motivation to do so.


But let's give Daniela her credit: she was timing the ball well on
her sharp, penetrating groundstrokes, and serving well. She
exploited Serena's diminished mobility with some nice spreading
rallies and the occasional dropshot, and some of Serena's errors can
be attributed to Daniela keeping a good length on her groundstrokes.

However, Daniela was rather tentative IMO, often just letting Serena
make the errors rather than going for too much - and of course the
erratic Serena obliged, giving Daniela plenty of free gifts.
Daniela's trademark backhand winners down the line were conspicuous
by their absence.

It certainly wasn't up there with Daniela's victory over Martina
Hingis in the Indian Wells 2002 final - which was one of the
greatest performances I've ever seen in my time as a tennis-fan.

Daniela looked lithe, sleek, strong and healthy, and very fetching
in a pair of what Sam Smith described as "microshorts" - although
they weren't actually short and light-coloured enough to have the
Golovin Effect, they did bring out the length of Daniela's upper
legs! ;-)


I watched the whole match on BBCi, but I don't have time to write up
as detailed a report as it deserves before the next match (I intend
to write up a detailed report for my website in the future). So for
now I'll just do the essence:

Commentator Sam Smith said during the warm-up that Daniela
often "plays matches with the handbrake on, not thinking as clearly
as she should."

She also said Daniela had now come to terms with no longer being a
top-ten player, and was just concentrating on good performances.


First Set
---------
HANTUCHO _*@*@*@ 6
WILLIAMS *______ 1

The match started at approximately 19:40 AEST on Rod Laver Arena.

Play was suspended for rain at 1-3 (15/30), and there was a half-
hour delay (20:02 to ~20:35) while they closed the roof and dried
the court with towels.

Quotes from Sam Smith:
* "There's lots of hungry Hantuchovás coming up the rankings to take
them out." [the correct Slovak plural is Hantuchové]
* {4-1} "If she doesn't take this first set with Serena playing like
this, she ought to be shot."

Daniela needed three set-points to get the first set under her belt,
finally sealing it with an off-forehand return-winner.

Daniela won the first set 6-1 at 20:50 (31m).


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHO * *___*@* *_ 7(7)
WILLIAMS _* *@*___* * 6(5)

Daniela showed great resilience to fight back from 2-4 to 4-4 (just
as Maria Sharapova had done against Serena in the Wimbledon 2004
final, which Maria won 6-1 6-4).

There's no more nervous time to be a Daniela-fan than when she's
match-point up. I remember watching her squander three match-points
in her loss to Shinobu Asagoe at Wimbledon 2003, and her bursting
into tears after missing them.

Daniela had three match-points on Serena's serve at 5-6 (0/40), but
Williams saved them with a forehand drive-volley winner, an error-
forcing backhand that caught the back edge of the baseline (how
painful *that* would have been if Daniela had gone on to lose), and
a 179 km/h ace.

Daniela led 3/0 in the tiebreak, but I thought she'd missed her
chance when she double-faulted and it became 3/4 (although I did
fancy Daniela's chances in a third set against an unfit Serena,
especially with Daniela having won all five third sets she's played
this year).

But Daniela forged ahead again, with Match-Points #4 and #5 at 6/4.
Williams saved #4 on her serve, but #5 was the first on Daniela's
serve, and she converted it with a service-winner down the middle.

Daniela won 6-1 7-6 (7/5) at 21:50 (1h31m net, 2h10m gross). The
good news for Serena was that McDonald's was still open! ;-)

Daniela jumped for joy, and the smile on her face was wonderful to
behold. In her on-court interview, she said she was going to "get a
massage", and there was no shortage of volunteers in the crowd! :lol:


Statistics
----------

Daniela had a W:UE ratio of 15:28, but Williams was much worse with
17:37.

Daniela got only 53% of first serves in (first set 68%, second set
46%), winning 78% of the points when she did so, and 54% on second
serve (Williams 65%, 67% and 31% - well done Daniela for attacking
Serena's second serve, which does tend to sit up nicely with
topspin).

Williams certainly had the faster first serve, with an average of
172 km/h (fastest 194 km/h), while Daniela's average first serve was
167 km/h (fastest 176 km/h). But Daniela's second serve was much
better than Serena's (143 km/h to 136 km/h, with a much higher
success-rate as noted above).

Daniela served 4 aces and 9 double faults, which is a bit high.
Williams served 5 aces and 4 doubles.

Daniela had her usual problems converting break-points as she broke
4 times from 16 BPs (second set only once from 6 BPs). But Williams
only had - and converted - one break-point against Daniela. When
you're generating that many more opportunities than your opponent,
you can afford to be profligate.

Williams went to the net 15 times but won only 8 of those points,
while Daniela was more selective in her approaches, winning 5 of 6
points at the net.

Daniela beat Williams by 78 points to 66 (first set 34-25, second
set 44-41).


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

"It means a lot... finally I can say I am able to play and beat
anyone, and I am just so happy - it just gives me so much
confidence. I had so many matches like this where I was really close
of beating the top players, and finally I did it today. I'm just
really extremely happy about that.

"I don't think she was hitting the ball as well as she could. I
think we all know how well she can really play. But to her credit, I
thought she kept fighting until the end. On those match-points, I
don't think I did anything wrong.

"At the end of the second set, it could have gone either way, so I
really did feel the pressure of her really competing. I mean, that's
something that you can never take away from her, and she did it
again tonight.

"I kept fighting for every single point, and never gave up in any
kind of situation. It was very difficult getting towards the end
there, but I'm just really glad of the way that I handled it.

"I always believed in myself. I guess the way to get there is to
keep working hard and fight all the way."

[Re. the difference between this and Daniela's previous matches
against the Williams sisters]
"Heart. Just really being mentally strong and resistant, keep
fighting for every single point, and not giving up in any kind of
situation. This time not really - I was not fighting myself at all
as I used to. I was just trying to be focused on every point.

"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. I was
beating myself because I had so many high expectations of myself.
Those times were difficult, but I guess everyone has to go through
them."

"I will have a massage and try to save all my energy for my next
match."


"Just" Williams quotes
----------------------

"I was prepared. I was really set and very ready to play. I just
didn't play my best at all today. I just made a lot of errors. I
just couldn't find my shots at all. I was just hitting balls every
which direction. Just going everywhere. I didn't feel any of them.
Everything I was trying just wasn't working. It was just one of
those days.

"I was just thinking about going to the tiebreak and, you know, just
trying to hold on. I wasn't thinking about the past or anything like
that. I think I was really calm."


-----------------
Fourth-round draw
-----------------

* MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17]

A mouthwatering match between my second and third favourite players
of all time. A match of tall, elegant beauty, of flairsome power,
and of the two loveliest serves in tennis.

"I have the power to save the one you love! You must choose!"

Surely, there is no grief that can befall a man more sorely than to
have to choose between Maria Sharapova and Daniela Hantuchová. If
this were a Grand Slam final, I'd be rooting for Daniela to join
Maria as a Grand Slam champion (in singles). If it were a regular
WTA tournament, then the joy and confidence to Daniela would far
outweigh the little gap on Maria's scroll of honour. But which one
is going to dignify my eternal fanship with the Australian Open
title?

As a Daniela-fan, I just hope to see her lose her inhibitions and
entertain us with full justice to her immense talent, even if only
to keep the match close.

Daniela will have to be bolder than she was against an erratic
Serena Williams if she is to make any real impact against a healthy
Maria. She'll need to hit more winners, get more first serves in,
and have a better break-point conversion-rate than she did against
Williams.

As Sam Smith said, Daniela takes tennis very seriously and
stressfully. She doesn't have the pressure that she's expected to
beat Maria, so she needs to have a bit more fun out there and
just "let it rip".

Daniela: "I'm really looking forward to the match, I've got nothing
to lose. If I keep going like I did tonight, it's going to be a
great match again. I can't wait to be out there again."

But will Maria be healthy for this match? She was struggling with a
blister in her second-round match - spraying forehands everywhere -
and also has a long-term shoulder-injury that could flare up at any
time. I pray that these problems will stay away until she's holding
up that beautiful tall trophy next Saturday.


----------------------------------
Women's Doubles: Second-round draw
----------------------------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] d. Li,Na/Peng,Shuai, 6-4 6-3

---------------------------------
Women's Doubles: Third-round draw
---------------------------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] v
   GISELA DULKO/MARIA KIRILENKO [10]

My eyes lit up when I saw this draw. Daniela and Dulkirilenko on the
same court! :hearts:


------------------------
Order of play for Sunday
------------------------

Rod Laver Arena (start 11:00 AEST = 00:00 GMT)
MD 3r: Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan v JORDAN KERR/TRAVIS PARROTT [14]
(NB 12:30) WS 4r: LINDSAY DAVENPORT v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [14]
MS 4r: Marcos Baghdatis v ANDY RODDICK [2]
|
Evening-session (not before 19:30 AEST = 08:30 GMT)
WS 4r: MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17]
MS 4r: IVAN LJUBICIC [7] v THOMAS JOHANSSON [10]

Maria v Daniela will be televised on BBCi at 8:30am GMT! :-))

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

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

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Photos
------

On court:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Off court:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?F58062F7C

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

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] d. Akgul Amanmuradova [WC], 6-4 6-1

The final scoreline looks easy, but Daniela struggled quite a bit
early on, going 1-3* down to the huge, powerful serve-volleyer (as
the commentators on BBCi described Amanmuradova whilst showing
Sharapova v Harkleroad - the only women's match of their Australian
Open 2006 coverage so far).

Having decided to sleep through the day-sessions in order to watch
BBCi's coverage of Melbourne's evening-sessions, I caught up with
the scores from the following threads:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=214101&page=18


First Set
---------
HANTUCHOVÁ _*__@*@* * 6
AMANMURADO * *@____*_ 4

The match started at 14:25 EST on the Margaret Court Arena.

Amanmuradova serving 1-1: 0/30 -> 30/30, held.
Daniela serving 1-2: 30/0 -> 30/30, broken.

Typical of Daniela to waste her opportunities. :-(

Amanmuradova serving 3-1: 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), Daniela error,
30/40, 40/40, ad D (BP #3), Deuce #2, ad D (BP #4), broken.

Daniela serving 2-3: Held to 15.
Amanmuradova serving 3-3: 15/15, 30/30, Daniela winner, 30/40 (BP),
Daniela breaks with another winner!

Daniela serving 4-3: 15/15, 40/15, 40/30, held.
Amanmuradova serving 3-5: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15, held.
Daniela serving for the set at 5-4: 0/30, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs) ->
40/40, ad D (SP #1), Daniela won the first set 6-4 at 15:16 (51m).


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHOVÁ @* *@*@ 6
AMANMURADO __*____ 1

Amanmuradova serving 0-0: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP),
broken.
Daniela serving 1-0: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15, held.
Amanmuradova serving 0-2: 15/15, 40/15, held.
Daniela serving 2-1: 30/15, 30/30, 40/30, held.
Amanmuradova serving 1-3: 0/40 (3 BPs), broken.

Just a very clean set by Daniela judging by the scores - no more
wasted opportunities. :-)

Daniela serving 4-1: Ace, 30/0 -> 30/30, 40/30, held.
Amanmuradova serving to stay in the match at 1-5: 0/15, 15/15,
15/30, 30/30, 40/30, 40/40. Daniela winner. Ad D (MP #1), Daniela
won 6-4 6-1 at 15:46 (1h21m).


Statistics
----------

Daniela had a W:UE ratio of 16:21, while Amanmuradova was much more
erratic with 17:30.

Amanmuradova won 9 of 17 points at the net, while Daniela was more
selective, winning 7 of 10 points at the net.

Daniela got 68% of first serves in, winning 67% of the points when
she did so, and 59% on second serve (Amanmuradova 51%, 53% and 45%).
Perhaps she could have got a better pay-off by going for bigger
first serves.

Daniela hit first serves with an average of 160 km/h (fastest 173
km/h), but only 133 km/h for second serves. Amanmuradova served
huge, with first serves of 175 km/h on average (fastest 186 km/h),
second serves 143 km/h.

Daniela broke 5 times from 8 break-points (perfect 3 out of 3 in the
second set), which is a terrific conversion-rate for her, and is the
reason for the one-sided scoreline as Amanmuradova broke only once
from 4 BPs.


----------------
Third-round draw
----------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v SERENA WILLIAMS [13]

The moment of truth that I've been looking forward to since the
first-round draw: can Daniela take advantage of an out-of-shape
Williams and upset the defending champion, or is it just going to be
another loss to a Williams sister like the 11 previous Hantuchová v
Williams matches?

Why Daniela might win:
* In a photo from the Hong Kong exhibition-tournament earlier this
month, I saw Serena looking shockingly overweight and out of shape.
* I can't imagine Serena being able to move as in 2002 or early
2005, the way she looked in that photo.
* Serena was thrashed 6-1 6-3 by Elena Dementieva in the
forementioned exhibition.
* Serena lost to Jill Craybas at Wimbledon 2005 (albeit on a
fractured ankle), and to Sun,Tiantian in September.
* Daniela has the ability to exploit Serena's assumed lack of
mobility with spreading rallies and those delectable backhand drop-
volleys.
* Daniela is stronger both mentally and physically than she was a
year or two ago.
* Daniela is one of the fittest players on the tour now, which could
give her the advantage if it goes to a third set (Daniela has won
all five of her third sets so far in 2006).
* Serena has the pressure of being defending champion and is already
outside the top ten - her ranking will drop like a stone if she
loses in the third round.

Why Daniela might lose:
* Too many people are saying this is her big chance to finally beat
a Williams sister.
* I'm not sure Daniela believes in the possibility of a win, never
even having taken a set off Serena in their three prior meetings.
It's hard to believe you're going to beat someone who's dominated
you so heavily in the past, no matter how heavily handicapped they
seem to be.
* Daniela didn't play all that well at Auckland.
* Daniela had to retire from Sydney with gastrointestinal illness,
and has suffered from a tooth-infection this week.
* Serena already looks slimmer in photos from the Australian Open
2006 than she did in the one from Hong Kong.
* Serena knows how to peak for a Grand Slam. Hong Kong was only an
exhibition.
* Serena struggled past Li,Na 6-3 6-7 6-2 in the first round, but
then cruised to an easy 6-3 6-1 victory over Camille Pin.
* Serena is well aware of Daniela's talent, so she's not going to be
caught off-guard.
* Daniela has lost in the third round of every single Grand Slam
since Wimbledon 2004.


Here are Serena's words ahead of the match:

Q. You play Daniela Hantuchová next round. So far it's 3-0 head-to-
head. She didn't win a set. How do you look forward for this match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, she's been playing really well lately. She's
no pushover. So I definitely have to be ready for that. Last match
was pretty tough.

Yeah, I have to look forward to that.

Q. She has been No. 5 in the world but she dropped. Do you think
she's on the way back? She can be again in the top 5?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she's definitely on the way back. I think
she's been on the way back for quite some time. She's made a lot of
improvements on her game and on everything. So, like I said, she's
definitely no pushover.

Q. Could be a threat to you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Everyone's a threat. But I'm real serious and I'm
here to be a threat as well.


----------------------------
Women's Doubles: First round
----------------------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] d.
   Nicole Vaidišová/Barbora Strýcová, 7-5 6-3

----------------------------------
Women's Doubles: Second-round draw
----------------------------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] v Li,Na/Peng,Shuai


------------------------
Order of play for Friday
------------------------

Rod Laver Arena (start 11:00 EST = 00:00 GMT)
WS 3r: MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v Jelena Kostanic
MS 3r: Julien Benneteau v ANDY RODDICK [2]
WS 3r: LINDSAY DAVENPORT [1] v MARIA KIRILENKO [25]
|
Evening session (not before 19:30 EST = 08:30 GMT)
WS 3r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v SERENA WILLIAMS [13]
MS 3r: TOMMY ROBREDO [16] v JAMES BLAKE [20]

Daniela's match will be televised on BBCi at 8:30am GMT! :-)

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

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

An email containing a virus was sent to the Group this morning,
pretending to be from me.

I assure you all that I did NOT send that email - if a virus
(operating on someone else's computer) sends out an email with my
address in the "From" field, there's nothing I can do about it in a
Yahoo! Group which does not allow members to hide their email-
addresses.

Please ignore any such out-of-character emails in the future, and do
NOT open the attachments.

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

forwarded message attached.

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/

Photos:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=6
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

-----------
First round
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] d. Saori Obata, 3-6 6-3 6-0

Daniela overcame a tooth-infection and last week's gastrointestinal
illness to win in a fashion that is becoming typical for her: one
sloppy set and two strong sets. It's a very encouraging sign of her
fitness and fighting-spirit that she has won all five of her three-
setters so far this year.

Having decided to sleep through the day-sessions in order to watch
BBCi's coverage of Melbourne's evening-sessions, I caught up with
the scores from the following threads:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=213275&page=4
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=212723&page=2


First Set
---------
HANTU @*___*___ 3
OBATA __*@* *@* 6

The match started at 11:16 EST.

Obata serving 0-0: Deuce, broken.
Daniela serving 1-0: 30/30, 40/30, held.
Obata serving 1-1: 30/15, 40/30, 40/40, ad O, held.
Daniela serving 2-1: 15/0, 15/15, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.

Daniela serving 2-3: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad O (BP), Deuce
#2, ad O (BP #2), Daniela saved it with an ace, Deuce #3, ad D, held.

Obata serving 3-3: Held to love. 3 errors from Daniela, but OBATA IS
ACTUALLY HITTING WINNERS!!!
Daniela serving 3-4: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.

Obata serving for the first set at 5-3: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15 (2 SPs)
-> 40/40, ad D (BP), Deuce #2, ad O (SP #3), Deuce #3, ad O (SP #4),
Deuce #4, ad O (SP #5), Obata won the first set 6-3 at 11:57.


Second Set
----------
HANTU _@* *@ @* 6
OBATA @__*__@__ 3

Daniela serving 0-0: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken -
3 unforced errors by Daniela.
Obata serving 1-0: Ace. 15/0. Double fault. 15/15, 15/30, 30/30,
30/40 (BP), 40/40, ad O, Deuce #2, ad D (BP #2), broken back.

Daniela serving 1-1: 30/0. Ace. 40/0, 40/15, held.
Obata serving 1-2: 30/0 -> 30/30, 40/30, held.
Daniela serving 2-2: 40/0, 40/15, held.
Obata serving 2-3: 0/40 (3 BPs), 15/40, broken.
Daniela serving 4-2: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad O (BP),
Deuce #2, ad D, Deuce #3, ad O (BP #2), broken. 4 UEs by Daniela in
that game.

Obata serving 3-4: 0/30, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Daniela serving for the set at 5-3: Held to love, sealed with an
ace! Daniela won the second set 6-3 at 12:41.


Third Set
---------
HANTU @*@*@* 6
OBATA ______ 0

Obata serving 0-0: 15/0, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.
Daniela serving 1-0: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Obata serving 0-2: 0/15, 15/15, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Daniela serving 3-0: Held to love.
Obata serving 0-4: 0/30 (Obata UEs), 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs) -> 40/40
(Daniela UEs), ad D (BP #3), broken.

Daniela serving for the match at 5-0: 15/0. Double fault. 15/15,
30/15. UE. 30/30. UE. 30/40 (BP), 40/40, ad O (BP #2), Deuce #2,
ad O (BP #3), Deuce #3, ad D (MP), Daniela won 3-6 6-3 6-0 at 13:12
(1h56m).


Statistics
----------

Daniela had a W:UE ratio of 32:42, Obata 18:26. Both players
volleyed quite a bit: Daniela winning 6 of 10 points at the net,
Obata 8 of 14.

Daniela got 55% of first serves in, winning 56% of the points when
she did so, and 59% on second serve (Obata 64%, 52% and 40%). Both
of Daniela's first-serve percentages will have to improve if she is
to make Serena Williams pay for her out-of-shapeness in the third
round.

Daniela's serve does not appear to have improved from the first set
to the next two; the difference is in her W:UE ratios: a monstrous
7:22 for the first set, and 25:20 for the second and third sets
combined.

The statistics do not imply that Daniela improved from the second
set to the third, but rather that Obata fell apart in the third
(e.g. with a W:UE of 3:10).

Daniela served 5 aces and one double fault; Obata 4 of each.

Daniela broke 7 times from 14 break-points (a good conversion-rate
for /her/), while Obata broke only 4 times from 11 BPs.


Quotes
------

Audio file in Slovak:
http://expres.sk/writeable/news/audio/A568_2006011611505600359_0.wma

-sOfia-'s translation: "I didnt have in a good condition on the
court for my problems with teeth, I tried to be patient and I waited
for right moments in a match. (She will use antibiotics till
tomorrow). Today I could move better and I can open my mouth (Dani
smiled). I was a little slower on the court, but I have time to
recover."


-----------------
Second-round draw
-----------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Akgul Amanmuradova [WC]

21-year-old Amanmuradova is currently ranked #185, and started 2006
with a loss in the first *qualifying* round of Hobart. She got to
the final of the WTA Tier IV at Tashkent last October, but has had
an otherwise undistinguished career so far.

Amanmuradova earned her wild card by winning the Asian Tennis
Championships at Tashkent in September 2005. From what I've read,
she's a tall girl with a big serve, but can't run for dropshots.
From the photos I've seen, I'm afraid the first four letters of her
surname are very apposite! ;-)

Daniela (from -sOfia-'s translation): "I don't know her, but I saw
her: she is so, so big <smiling>. But I must seriously prepare for
that match."


---------------------------------
Women's Doubles: First-round draw
---------------------------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [6] v
   Nicole Vaidišová/Barbora Strýcová

It will be nice for the Melbourne spectators to see Daniela and
Nicole on the same court, as I did at Birmingham 2005 when they
practised together with the Super Maria Sisters. :-)


---------------------------
Order of play for Wednesday
---------------------------

Margaret Court Arena (start 11:00 EST = 00:00 GMT)
MS 2r: ROBBY GINEPRI [13] v Denis Gremelmayr
WS 2r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Akgul Amanmuradova [WC]
MS 2r: TOMÁŠ BERDYCH [19] v Gilles Simon
|
Evening-session (not before 19:30 EST)
MS 2r: Xavier Malisse v THOMAS JOHANSSON [10]

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

--
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/

===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace);
Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

This is a cut-down, Daniela-focused edit of my full Australian Open
preview:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/message/3113

1. UK TV-alert
5. Andrew's analysis of the draw
7. Order of play for Monday


--------------
1. UK TV-alert
--------------

For those in the UK who have a Freeview box or other form of digital
TV, there will be extra coverage of the Australian Open on BBCi!
They will be televising the evening-session of the Rod Laver Arena
from 8:30am GMT each day, in addition to the usual weekend-coverage
on BBC 1 & 2.

Further details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4582096.stm


--------------------------------
5. Andrew's analysis of the draw
--------------------------------
5.2 Second quarter
------------------

* MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v Sandra Klösel (davai Maria!)
* Ashley Harkleroad [Q] v Peng,Shuai (jia you Shuai!)
* Mashona Washington v Jelena Kostanic
* Zuzana Ondrášková v ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [28] (pod'me Zuzana!)

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Saori Obata
* Dally Randriantefy v Akgul Amanmuradova [WC]
* Mariana Diaz-Oliva v Camille Pin
* Li,Na v SERENA WILLIAMS [13]

* ELENA DEMENTIEVA [9] v Julia Schruff (davai Elena!)
* Elena Vesnina v Li,Ting [Q]
* Tzipora Obziler [Q] v Olga Savchuk [Q]
* Jill Craybas v JELENA JANKOVIC [23]

* KLÁRA KOUKALOVÁ [29] v Ekaterina Bychkova (pod'me Klára!)
* Maria Elena Camerin v Yvonne Meusburger [Q] (forza Maria Elena!)
* Jarmila Gajdošová [Q] v Martina Müller
* Sophie Ferguson v NADIA PETROVA [6]

1r: #101 Saori Obata is the most boring tennis-player I've ever
seen. She just stands behind the baseline and hits everything ten
feet above the net. She lost 6-4 6-4 to Tatiana Poutchek in the
first *qualifying* round of Canberra.

Obata may have been the beneficiary of a 6-3 6-1 self-destruction by
Jelena Dokic at Eastbourne 2003 (I was there), but she'll get no
such favour from Daniela (always assuming that Daniela will have
recovered from the gastrointestinal illness with which she retired
from Sydney).

2r: Looks like another easy passage against either #185 Amanmuradova
or #68 Randriantefy - really nothing to worry about but Daniela's
health.

3r: It should be Serena Williams - but not the same Serena who owns
a 3-0 record over Daniela (most recently 6-4 6-3 at Dubai 2005). The
defending champion is seeded only 13th after a horrendous 2005 post-
AO. And she lost 6-1 6-3 to Elena Dementieva in last week's Hong
Kong exhibition - and I was shocked at how out-of-shape and
overweight Serena looked in a photo from that event. There's never
been a better chance for Daniela to finally get a win over a
Williams sister than if she meets Serena now.

4r: I really hope for a mouthwatering Daniela v Maria Sharapova
match. Daniela did beat a young Maria 7-6 6-1 at Tokyo Pan Pacific
Open 2004, but Maria has won their subsequent three meetings in
straight sets. Maria will be playing in pain from a dislocated rib,
but I'm pretty confident that she will keep up her end of the
bargain.


---------------------------
7. Order of play for Monday
---------------------------

Show Court 3 (start 11:00 EST = 00:00 GMT)
WS 1r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [17] v Saori Obata
MS 1r: MARIO ANCIC [18] v Agustin Calleri
MS 1r: José Acasuso v JAMES BLAKE [20]

Full order of play:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/

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

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

======================
MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL (Sydney, Australia; hard outdoor; WTA Tier II)
====================== http://www.medibankinternational.com.au/
Photos
------

http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=211807 (Sunday)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=212073 (Monday)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=212290 (Tuesday)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=212556 (Wednesday)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=5
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=65349&page=42
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"


-----------
First round (Monday)
-----------

+ Daniela Hantuchová d. Sania Mirza, 6-4 2-6 6-2

A mouthwatering match of flairsome groundstrokes.

The Sania-fans (I am a demi-fan) think that their girl was robbed by
a couple of overrules: one that denied her a *5-2 lead in the first
set, and one that gave Daniela a 5-2* lead in the third set.

Sania: "It will take me a few months for sure in match-pressure
situations before I expect to be confident with what I am trying to
execute. But for a start - pretty good. I think I have recovered
sufficiently from the back-problem as I had no problems with it."

slice's match-report:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=7044787


------------
Second round (Tuesday)
------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová d. PATTY SCHNYDER [3], 3-6 6-3 6-4

Daniela has now played Schnyder 14 times (including Fed Cup), with
Schnyder leading their head-to-head 8-6, but Daniela has won 3 of
their 4 meetings in 2005/2006, which is ironic as 2005 has been the
only year which Schnyder has finished in the top ten (Schnyder is
currently ranked #8, Daniela #17).

I distilled the following information from the scores-thread:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=211995&page=26


First Set
---------
HANTUCHO __@*___*_ 3
SCHNYDER *@__*@* * 6

The match started at 13:48 EST.
Schnyder serving 0-0: Held after saving break-point (surprise,
surprise!).
Daniela serving 0-1: Started with a double fault, broken to 15.
Schnyder serving 2-0: Daniela squandered 3 more BPs, then actually
broke! :-)
Daniela serving 1-2: Saved BP, then held with an ace.

Daniela serving 2-3: Broken to 15. Only 40% of first serves in so
far.

Daniela serving to stay in the set at 2-5: Held to love.
Schnyder serving for the set at 5-3: 0/30 -> 30/30, 30/40 (BP),
40/40, ad Schnyder (SP), Schnyder won the first set 6-3 at 14:31
(43m).


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHO * *@* * * 6
SCHNYDER _*___* *_ 3

Daniela serving 0-0: Held to love.
Schnyder serving 0-1: Recovered from 0/30 to hold.
Daniela serving 1-1: Held to love again!
Schnyder serving 1-2: 15/30, 30/30, 30/40, broken!
Daniela serving 3-1: 0/30 -> 30/30, 40/30, 40/40, ad Daniela, Deuce
#2, ad Daniela, Deuce #3, ad Schnyder (BP), Deuce #4, ad Daniela,
held.

Schnyder serving 1-4: 40/0 -> 40/40, ad Schnyder, Deuce #2, ad
Schnyder, held.
Daniela serving 4-2: Held after saving 3 BPs!
Schnyder serving to stay in the set at 2-5: 15/15, 30/30, 40/30,
40/40, ad Schnyder, held.

Daniela serving for the set at 5-3: 15/0. Double fault. 15/15,
15/30, 30/30, 40/30 (SP), Daniela won the second set at 15:13 (40m).
They took a 10m heat-break.


Third Set
---------
HANTUCHO @ @ @*__@* 6
SCHNYDER _@ @__*@__ 4

Schnyder serving 0-0: Daniela broke to love!
Daniela serving 1-0: 30/15, 30/30, 40/40, ad Schnyder (BP), Deuce
#2, ad Daniela, Deuce #3, ad Schnyder (BP #2), broken back.

Schnyder serving 1-1: 0/40 (3 BPs) -> 30/40, broken.
Daniela serving 2-1: 15/15, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Schnyder serving 2-2: 0/30, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken on a double
fault.
Daniela serving 3-2: Served an ace and held comfortably.
Schnyder serving 2-4: Held to 15.
Daniela serving 4-3: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40, broken.

Schnyder serving 4-4: 0/30, 15/30, 15/40 (2 BPs). Schnyder serves
her sixth double fault of the match to give Daniela the vital break!
Daniela serving for the match at 5-4: 40/0 (3 MPs), 40/15. Ace!
Daniela won 3-6 6-3 6-4 at 16:05.


--------------
Quarter-finals (Wednesday)
--------------

- Daniela Hantuchová lt. NICOLE VAIDIŠOVÁ [8],
   6-3 3-1 retired (gastrointestinal illness)

A sad way for this mouthwatering match (and a match between two good
friends, judging by what I saw on the practice-courts at Birmingham
2005) to end.

Daniela has now retired or given her opponent a walkover four times
in her career, and every time has been due to illness as opposed to
injury. I don't know whether to blame the 40°C heat in Sydney, as
Daniela is one of the fittest players on tour, and usually gets an
advantage from hot conditions.

Nicole is another player of whom I'm a demi-fan, and it's a distinct
possibility that she will be the next player I induct into my
eternal fanship. She has amazing firepower on her serve and
forehand, although she's still a rough diamond in terms of touch and
mobility (as of the last time I saw her play, at Wimbledon 2005).

Scores-thread:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=212225&page=21


First Set
---------
HANTUCH _____*@*_ 3
VAIDIŠO *@*@*___* 6

The match started at 15:46.
Nicole serving 0-0: 30/30, 30/40 (BP), 40/40, ad Nicole, held.
Daniela serving 0-1: 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.

And therein lies the difference: Daniela wastes break-points, Nicole
converted in the same situation. Perhaps that's why Nicole has
already won four WTA singles-titles in her career, Daniela only one
(but Indian Wells is a super Tier I; Nicole hasn't won anything
above Tier III yet).

Nicole serving 2-0: 0/40 (3 BPs) -> 40/40, held.
Daniela serving 0-3: 15/30, broken.
Nicole serving 4-0: Double fault. 0/15, 0/30, 15/40 (2 BPs) ->
40/40, ad Nicole, held.

Daniela has converted 0 of 6 break-points so far, Nicole 2 of 3.

Daniela serving to stay in the set at 0-5: 0/15, 15/30, 15/40 (2
SPs) -> 40/40, ad Daniela, held.
Nicole serving for the set at 5-1: Double fault. 0/15... broken!
Daniela serving to stay in the set at 2-5: Held to 15.
Nicole serving for the set at 5-3: 15/0, 30/15. Double fault. 40/40,
ad Nicole (SP #3), Deuce #2, ad Nicole (SP #4), Nicole won the first
set 6-3 at 16:26 (40m).


Second Set
----------
HANTUCH *___ 1 retired
VAIDIŠO _*@* 3

Daniela serving 0-0: 0/15, 30/15, 30/30, 40/30, held.
Nicole serving 0-1: Held to 15.
Daniela serving 1-1: 0/15. Double fault. 0/30, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Nicole serving 2-1: Held to love.
Daniela serving 1-3: 0/15. Double fault. 0/30. Daniela retired at
16:45.


-------
Doubles
-------

Daniela Hantuchová/Ai Sugiyama:
1r - ANNA-LENA GRÖNEFELD/LIEZEL HUBER [2], 6-1 7-6 (7/4)

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

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

===========
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.

------
Photos
------

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

------
Videos
------

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


-----------
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."


------------
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."


-------------
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."


----------
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/

I have just updated Daniela's biography on my website:
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/biography.html

It is *not* a copy of Daniela's standard WTA Tour biography, but my
own detailed appreciation of her game, followed by a review for
every year of her career. I have edited the introduction, and added
a review of 2005.

The rest of this message pertains to Daniela's preparations for next
week's Auckland tournament.


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

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [2] v Yulia Beygelzimer [FU]

Seemingly a nice gentle opener for Daniela. FU stands for Feed-Up,
meaning that Beygelzimer won a tournament on the ITF Women's Circuit
to earn her place here.

Full draw:
http://www.wtatour.com/draws/

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

"I just heard so many beautiful things about [New Zealand] and it's
a place I've never been to, and would really love to explore.

"It's great preparation for the Australian Open which is obviously
the priority for me, and I'm just looking for some matches at the
beginning of the year to get used to it again.

"I have had so many people talking to me, even in the past when I
was little, about New Zealand being one of the most beautiful
countries in the world and if I was ever going to get the chance to
come, that I should visit.

"I am really, really excited to come down and visit the country.

"I made a lot of progress and the only people I lost to were top-ten
players. I definitely felt like it was a pretty good season.

"I was very close to beating the world number one Lindsay Davenport
two weeks ago [these quotes are from 9th November 2005].

"I feel like I'm on the right track, and the last couple of months
have given me a great platform to start the new year from."


Tournament-director Richard Palmer:
"Daniela is a player who is athletic, and is identified as a player
who can beat anyone on her day. She has been as high as five in the
world, and with a ranking currently inside the top 20, she will be a
huge drawcard."

------
Photos
------

Andrew's photos of the year (Daniela and others):
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6685826


I wish Daniela and all her fans a happy new year.

--
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/

==============
CHALLENGE BELL (Québec City, Canada; indoor hard; WTA Tier III)
==============

Daniela was going to be the main attraction here - the second seed
with a real chance of winning the title - but she withdrew with a
shoulder-strain! ':-(

So Daniela's 2005 season is over now.

--
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/

====================
GENERALI LADIES LINZ (Linz, Austria; indoor hard; WTA Tier II)
====================
Photos
------

On-court:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=200750
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=65349&page=41
http://nicolevaidisova.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12

Nigel Lee's Daniela screen-caps:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danifan/Dani_Linz.htm (1r)
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danifan/Dani_Linz2.htm (2r)
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danifan/Dani_Linz3.htm (qf)

If you want to see Daniela crying, search Getty Images
for "hantuchova"


Off-court:
http://www.wtatour.com/photogallery/ (select "Linz" and "Linz2")
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=65349&page=40

Winner of the "Daniela Hantuchová lookalike competition":
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6522460

-----------
First round
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6] d. Klára Koukalová, 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (11/9)

This was Daniela's first-ever match against Klára, the pretty Czech
girl who has won two WTA singles titles this year.

Teletext criticised Daniela's inconsistency, but I'm quite proud of
her for pulling this one out from 2-4* and *4-5 down in the third,
and holding her nerve in such a long tiebreak.

After all those match-points that she missed at Zurich last week,
it's poetic justice that she saved two in this match (in the third-
set tiebreak: Klára led *5/2 and had match-points at 7/6* and *8/7,
while Daniela's were at 6/5*, *9/8 and 10/9*).

Daniela was modest in victory: "It was an even game, and I was the
luckier of the two of us."

------------
Second round
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6] d. Conchita Martínez,
   2-6 6-0 *3-1 retired (right-wrist strain)

I'm sorry that Daniela's win had to be by retirement. The 33-year-
old Martínez, who won Wimbledon 1994, took an injury time-out at the
end of the second set, and continued until Daniela broke for 3-1.

www.wtatour.com: "Hantuchová reached the quarter-finals when veteran
Conchita Martínez retired in the middle of the third set. Martínez's
crafty play seemed to throw Hantuchová at the start, but the young
Slovak steadied in the second and began to connect better on her
fluid groundstrokes."

Yahoo! Sports: "Martínez, a 33-year-old Spaniard and 1994 Wimbledon
winner, won the first set with a good serve-and-volley game.
Hantuchová then began attacking Martínez's serves and evened the
match. In the third set, a weakened Martínez stopped after dropping
serve."


Daniela: "I was trying to do a bit too much in the first set. She
was making me play a lot of balls, but I started to calm down, told
myself not to rush. I'm glad the way I played in the second set and
at the beginning of the third. I think I was a little tired after my
match last night, at least at the start of the match; my reactions
were a little slow, but that changed and I played better as the
match went on.

"It is pretty unlucky she could not continue. Winning like this is
no fun."


Martínez: "My wrist and arm started to get worse throughout the
match, and in the third my Achilles heel that has been bugging me
since the summer was really bad, so there was no point in finishing.
I had some chances in the first two games of the second set, but I
didn't take them, and after that, things started to go downhill. It
hurt too much. There was no way I could play on."

Martínez may soon retire in another sense:
"I always said I would finish the year, and the year is not finished
yet. My main goal is to make the WTA Championships in doubles, and
obviously I'm going to take care of my injuries and that takes some
time. During that time I'm going to think of what I want to do, if I
want to continue or not. I still have some good tennis in me. It's
just a matter of being fit and being 100% all the time. It's tougher
to recover now, and when you carry injuries it's tough to play."

-------------
Quarter-final
-------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6] lt. PATTY SCHNYDER [4], 6-2 6-1

A very disappointing loss for Daniela, especially as there was no
Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport or Venus Williams to stop Daniela
winning this tournament.

Daniela went into this match with a 5-7 head-to-head against
Schnyder, but Daniela had won both their previous 2005-meetings.

According to www.wtatour.com, Schnyder "used her shot variety to
perfection and served impeccably to secure the victory".

Schnyder: "I think I played perfect tennis tonight. She stayed with
me early in the first set, but after that I stepped it up and had a
pretty comfortable win. I think you can see that we are both a
little tired; you could see that sometimes with her shots. But she's
a great champion and I needed to be careful today, especially since
I lost to her the two times I played her this year."

-------
Doubles
-------

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [4]:
1r + Daniela Klemenschits/Sandra Klemenschits, 6-0 6-3
qf + Eva Birnerová/Andreea Vanc, 6-0 6-2
sf - Gisela Dulko/Kveta Peschke, 4-6 6-3 6-3

--
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/

===========
ZURICH OPEN (Zurich, Switzerland; indoor hard; WTA Tier I)
===========
Photos
------

On-court photos:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=198891&page=3 (and page 4)

Off-court photos:
http://www.wtatour.com/photogallery/

-----------
First round
-----------

+ Daniela Hantuchová d. Ai Sugiyama [Q], 1-6 7-5 6-4

Daniela went into this match trailing her head-to-head with Sugiyama
1-4, with Sugiyama winning their previous three matches - most
recently at San Diego in August (7-5 4-6 6-2). But this time Daniela
pulled off a remarkable escape.

Sugiyama served for the match at 6-1 5-3: 0/30 -> 30/30, 30/40 (BP),
broken!

In the third set, Daniela had to fight off several break-points in a
long service-game at 2-3. But there weren't any breaks until 4-4,
when Daniela converted her third break-point of that game to serve
for the match at 5-4.

Daniela serving for the match at 5-4: 0/30 -> 40/30 (MP), 40/40,
ad D (MP #2), Deuce #2, ad S (BP), Deuce #3, ad D (MP #3), Deuce #4,
ad D (MP #4), Daniela won 1-6 7-5 6-4.

------------
Second round
------------

- Daniela Hantuchová lt. LINDSAY DAVENPORT [1], 3-6 7-5 6-2

Daniela served for the match at 6-3 *5-4, with two match-points at
40/15, but she still couldn't stop Davenport reclaiming the world #1
ranking on 24th October, pushing Maria Sharapova out of the top 2!
':-(

On the bright side, Daniela must be playing at a very high level to
almost beat Lindsay Davenport. I was expecting another two-set loss,
with Daniela winning not more than four games a set, although part
of me did believe she just might pull off the upset. But how can I
truly believe that Daniela can beat Davenport if Daniela doesn't
believe it herself?

Scores-thread:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=199703&page=14

The match started at 17:10 CEST.

First Set
---------
HANTUCHOV * *@* * * 6
DAVENPORT _*___* *_ 3

Davenport serving 1-2: 15/0, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP), 40/40,
ad Davenport, Deuce #2, ad Daniela (BP #2), broken.

Davenport serving 1-4: held after saving BP (30/40).

Davenport serving to stay in the first set at 2-5: 40/0, 40/15, held.

Daniela serving for the first set at 5-3: 0/15, 30/15, 30/30,
40/30 (SP), 40/40, ad Daniela (SP #2), Daniela won the first set 6-3
at 17:43 (33m).


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHOV _*@* * *____ 5
DAVENPORT *___* * *@*@ 7

Daniela serving 0-1: held after saving 2 BPs (15/40).

Davenport serving 1-1: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP), 40/40,
ad Daniela (BP #2), broken.

2 seems to be Daniela's lucky number today! :-)

Davenport serving 1-3: recovered from 15/30 and needed 2 GPs (40/30
& ad) to hold.

Daniela serving 4-3: held to love.

Davenport serving to stay in the match at 3-5: held to 15.

Daniela serving for the match at 5-4: 0/15, 40/15 (two match-
points). "But Davenport struck a backhand volley winner on the first
and Hantuchová hit a forehand long on the second to bring the game
to deuce. Davenport then broke for 5-5 with a crosscourt return and
a double-fault" [Yahoo! Sports].

Davenport serving 5-5: held after saving two break-points.

Daniela serving to stay in the second set at 5-6: 15/15, 15/30,
30/40 (SP), 40/40, ad Davenport (SP #2), Davenport won the second
set 7-5 at 18:30 when Daniela made a forehand error.


Third Set
---------
HANTUCHOV __@*____ 2
DAVENPORT *@__*@*@ 6

Davenport serving 0-0: recovered from 0/30 to hold.

Daniela serving 0-1: broken to love.

Davenport serving 2-0: 0/40 (3 BPs), 30/40, broken.

Daniela serving 2-3: 15/15, 15/40, broken on a double fault.

Davenport serving 4-2: 40/0, 40/15, held.

Daniela serving to stay in the match at 2-5: Daniela's shoulders
slumped, and she was broken to 15. Davenport won 3-6 7-5 6-2 at
18:58 (1h 48m).


Davenport quotes
----------------

"I knew it would be tough. I didn't feel I was playing my best or
striking the ball that well, but I still managed to win despite the
circumstances. I felt that I wasn't even close, to be honest. I
didn't feel I was hitting the ball cleanly, and I thought she was
playing well and serving well.

"But once it got to 5-5, obviously it's a whole different match. She
became a little bit emotional when she didn't win those match-
points, and seemed really down even starting at 5-5, so I was just
trying to take advantage of that and move forward.

"It was like two different matches. I was playing really badly to
start off with, missing a lot of returns, and she was playing really
well. At the two match-points, I thought, `I'm on the plane going
home tomorrow,' but then it can change around that quickly.

"I hung in there, played some good points and found myself in a
third set. Her level went down in the third set and I was hitting
the ball much cleaner then. To play her here in the first match is
probably the most difficult draw I could have had, so I'm glad to
get through it."


Davenport's victory means that she returns to #1 in the rankings on
24th October, while Maria Sharapova drops to #3 behind Kim Clijsters.

It's ironic that Davenport took back the #1 ranking by beating
Daniela, because Maria could have become #1 earlier than she did by
beating Daniela at Los Angeles (instead, Maria gave Daniela a
walkover because of her right pectoral muscle strain); also,
Davenport beat Daniela en route to the New Haven title which ended
Maria's first stint at #1.

The way to the #1 ranking is through Daniela.
The way to winning Wimbledon is through Daniela (2001/02, 2004/05).
The way to winning a Grand Slam is through Maria (all four in 2005).

-----
Final
-----

Daniela lost to the eventual champion:
+ LINDSAY DAVENPORT [1] d. PATTY SCHNYDER [6], 7-6 (7/5) 6-3

Davenport: "It's been a difficult week as I was struggling to find
my form in the first few days. But saving two match-points against
Daniela Hantuchová on Thursday proved to be the turning point."

--------------------
Doubles: First round
--------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Ai Sugiyama d.
   SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA/ALICIA MOLIK [4], 6-0 7-6 (7/3)

----------------------
Doubles: Quarter-final
----------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Ai Sugiyama d.
   Elena Dementieva/Flavia Pennetta, 4-6 6-2 6-4

-------------------
Doubles: Semi-final
-------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Ai Sugiyama d.
   LISA RAYMOND/SAMANTHA STOSUR [1], 7-6 (8/6) 6-3

This win is something special for Daniela, because Raymond and
Stosur have won five doubles-titles since June, including the
women's doubles at the US Open. :-)

--------------
Doubles: Final
--------------

- Daniela Hantuchová/Ai Sugiyama lt.
   CARA BLACK/RENNAE STUBBS [2], 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (7/4) 6-3

Daniela and Ai led 7-6 5-2*, served for the title at *5-3, and
squandered four championship-points at 5-4*. That's six match-points
missed this week for Daniela (in matches that she went on to
lose). ':-(

--
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/

====================
FORTIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (Luxembourg; hard; WTA Tier II)
====================
Photos
------

Daniela Hantuchová, Anna Chakvetadze, Klára Koukalová and others:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?S215417EB

The above players plus Roberta Vinci and others:
http://www.fortis-championships.lu/gallery.html

Daniela Hantuchová and Alyona Bondarenko:
http://inside-tennis.net/index.php?action=gallery&id=167

Daniela screencaps:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danifan/Dani_Lux.htm

-----------
First round
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] d. Anabel Medina Garrigues,
   6-7 (7/2) 7-6 (7/2) 6-0

Daniela saved two match-points on her serve at 5-6 in the second!
(after deuces). Daniela "needed all her skill" [CEEFAX] to see off
the feisty Spaniard who "ran down everything that was fired at her"
[www.wtatour.com].

------------
Second round
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] d. Anna Chakvetadze, 6-4 6-1

A most intriguing match, as Daniela is a member of my eternal
fanship while Anna is a candidate for such. They had never met
before in a professional singles match, so I wasn't sure what to
expect. Daniela is coming off an American hardcourt summer which saw
her near to her best form, while Anna is on an impressive
improvement-curve judging by her 2005 results.

Daniela overcame an ankle-problem and a choked 4-0 lead to see off
the ultra-cute Anna rather easily in the end.

I followed live scores at http://www.scortenn-live.com/ - here are
my comments as I wrote them at the time:


First Set
---------
HANT *@*@____*@ 6
CHAK ____@*@*__ 4

The match started at 16:15 CEST.

Dani serving 0-0: 40/0, 40/15, held.
Anna serving 0-1: 15/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad D, broken.

From what I've seen so far, Anna is pretty reliable at holding
serve - except when she has to serve for a set. It's a pretty big
blow against her to drop serve from 40/15 up, and I already get the
feeling that Daniela could run away with this match.

My feelings are pretty strange at the moment: I want Daniela to win
the match, but I don't want Anna to get badly thrashed - even by a
member of my eternal fanship.

Dani serving 2-0: held to love.

Daniela then took a medical timeout, even though she was 3-0 up, as
she explained after the match:
"I had inflammation of tendonitis and felt it three days ago so I
couldn't practise before the tournament. I had treatment on the
ankle, but the problem in the match was not the ankle - it was the
tape. It was too tight and I had no feeling in my foot. I tried to
forget about it but I couldn't. It's annoying to ask for the trainer
after just three games and I don't like to do it, but I had no
choice."

Anna serving 0-3: 15/0, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.

Daniela has now won 12 games in a row since saving match-points at
6-7 5-6 against Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Dani serving 4-0: broken to love.
Anna serving 1-4: 30/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad A, held.

An important hold for Anna after being broken from 40/15 up in the
second game. Daniela needs to be vigilant now - Anna is a tremendous
fighter.

Dani serving 4-2: 40/0 -> 40/40, ad A, broken.

Well, that attack of Alexandra Stevenson's syndrome (dropping serve
from 40/0 up) has completely changed the complexion of this match.
I'm no longer worried about Anna being thrashed - I'm worried about
Daniela having her fragile confidence shattered by losing this set
from 4-0 up.

Anna serving 3-4: held to love.
Dani serving 4-4: 15/15, 15/30, 30/30, 40/30, 40/40, held.
Anna serving to stay in the first set at 4-5: 0/15, 15/30, 30/30,
40/40, Daniela won the first set 6-4 at 16:57.

But Daniela has been much more resilient in the last three months
than she was from March 2003 to June 2005, and she's now firmly back
in the driving-seat for this match. I attribute her newfound
confidence to getting herself in top shape physically.


Second Set
----------
HANT * *@*@* 6
CHAK _*_____ 1

Dani serving 0-0: 40/0, 40/15, held.
Anna serving 0-1: 30/0, 40/15 -> 40/40, held.

Once again, Anna taken from 40/15 to 40/40. Daniela has a history of
wasting opportunities, but I think in this case it will get inside
Anna's head that she's not going to get an easy ride from 40/15 up.

Dani serving 1-1: 15/15, 40/15, held.
Anna serving 1-2: 15/0, 15/40 (2 BPs), 30/40, broken.
Dani serving 3-1: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Anna serving 1-4: 15/40 (2 BPs), 30/40, broken.
Dani serving for the match at 5-1: held to love. Daniela won 6-4 6-1
at 17:21 (66 minutes).

I think Daniela has two big advantages over Anna: experience and
sheer brilliance.

I'm a bit disappointed that it was so one-sided, but maybe in four
years' time it will be Anna's turn to give a promising 18-year-old a
tennis-lesson.

--------------
Quarter-finals
--------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [5] lt. NATHALIE DECHY [4], 6-1 6-4

Teletext described Daniela's performance as "flaky". The fans on
WTAworld.com who watched the match on Eurosport were not so
complimentary. Apparently her movement was terrible and her body-
language very negative.

It's such a letdown after her thrashing of Anna Chakvetadze in the
previous round.

Daniela: "Everything went wrong with my game. She played really
smart, she didn't let me play my game and I couldn't find my rhythm."

HANTU _____*_ 1
DECHY *@*@* * 6

HANTU * *____@*_ 4
DECHY _* *@*@__* 6

--
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/

The photos that I took at Eastbourne 2002 and 2003 can now be found
in the Photos section of my website (subject to the image-host being
up at the time you visit):
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/photos/

Some of you may remember seeing these photos years ago in various
Yahoo! Groups. But now I have uploaded *all* my photos (not just the
ones of my fanees), and they are not subject to the image-
compression that Yahoo! Groups now inflict on their Photos sections.

Daniela Hantuchová (113 photos)
Jelena Dokic (65)
Iroda Tulyaganova (41)
Saori Obata (20)
Meghann Shaughnessy (18)
Chanda Rubin (18)
Anastasia Myskina (13)
Alexandra Stevenson (13)
Samantha Reeves (11)
Martina Navrátilová (11)
Rennae Stubbs (11)
Evgenia Koulikovskaya (10)
Clarisa Fernández (10)
Ai Sugiyama (9)
Anna Smashnova (8)
Anna Kournikova (7)
Amanda Coetzer (5)
Wynne Prakusya (4)
Rita Grande (4)
Patty Schnyder (4)
Francesca Schiavone (4)
Silvia Farina Elia (3)
Natasha Zvereva (3)
Lori McNeil (3)
Janet Lee (3)
Magüi Serna (3)
Mary Pierce (2)
Magdalena Maleeva (1)
Cara Black (1)
Nathalie Dechy (1)
Anne Kremer (1)
Jo Durie (1)
Lisa Raymond (1)
Tatiana Panova (1)
Jill Craybas (1)

A reminder that my website contains reports with point-by-point
descriptions of Daniela's matches (I attended the Eastbourne
tournament from Monday to Wednesday both years, and saw the quarter-
finals and beyond at home on TV):
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/reports.html

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

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

Daniela has her career Grand Slam in mixed doubles!
1. Wimbledon 2001 (with Leos Friedl)
2. Australian Open 2002 (with Kevin Ullyett)
3. French Open 2005 (with Fabrice Santoro)
4. US Open 2005 (with Mahesh Bhupathi)

What makes Daniela such a great mixed-doubles player is that she can
hold serve reliably with the men, whilst attacking the other woman's
serve. So she can win mixed doubles with any man who can hold serve
reliably - remember also that she won the Hopman Cup mixed-team
competition with Dominik Hrbatý in January 2005.

Photos:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=188795&page=4
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Post-final press-conference (video only):
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O383133CB

-------------------
Mixed Doubles Final
-------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi d.
   Katarina Srebotnik/Nenad Zimonjic, 6-4 6-2

The match started at 13:50 EDT in a sparsely-packed Arthur Ashe
stadium. I followed live scores at www.usopen.org; here are my
comments as I wrote them at the time:

First Set
---------
HANTUCHO/BHUPATHI _* * *@* * 6
SREBOTNI/ZIMONJIC * * *___*_ 4

I am assuming that the men are serving first.

Zimonjic serving 0-0: 0/15, 15/15, 40/15, 40/30, held.
Bhupathi serving 0-1: held to love.
Srebotnik serving 1-1: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 40/30, held.

In mixed doubles you always look to attack the woman's serve, so
that was an opportunity missed for Daniela and Mahesh.

Daniela serving 1-2: 40/0, 40/30, held.
Zimonjic serving 2-2: 30/0 -> 30/30, 40/30, held.
Bhupathi serving 2-3: 30/0 -> 30/30, 40/30, held.
Srebotnik serving 3-3: 30/0 -> 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.

Excellent! Everything is going as planned.

Daniela serving 4-3: held to love.
Zimonjic serving to stay in the first set at 3-5: 15/0, 15/15,
40/15, held.
Bhupathi serving for the first set at 5-4: 15/0, 15/15,
40/15 (2 SPs), Daniela and Mahesh won the first set 6-4 at 14:23.


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHO/BHUPATHI @* * *@* 6
SREBOTNI/ZIMONJIC __* *___ 2

I am assuming that the men are serving first.

Zimonjic serving 0-0: 0/30 -> 30/30, 30/40 (BP), broken.

A break of the man's serve is clearly a bigger blow than a break of
the woman's. Daniela and Mahesh are well on the way to a straight-
sets victory now! :-)

Bhupathi serving 1-0: held to love.
Srebotnik serving 0-2: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Daniela serving 2-1: 0/15, 30/15, 30/30, 40/30, held.
Zimonjic serving 1-3: 40/0 -> 40/40, ad Z, held.
Bhupathi serving 3-2: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Srebotnik serving 2-4: broken to love.

A double break should be an unassailable lead in doubles, where the
pressure is much less than in singles because you have a partner.
And Daniela has the honour of serving for the title! :-)

Daniela serving for the title at 5-2: 0/40 (3 BPs) -> 40/40, ad D
(championship-point), Daniela and Mahesh won 6-4 6-2 at 14:52.


Statistics
----------

Daniela and Mahesh won 78% of points when they got their first
serves in, and 76% on second serve. Srebotnik/Zimonjic were much
worse at 63% and 41%. Srebotnik/Zimonjic served 5 aces and 3 double
faults, while Daniela and Mahesh served two of each.

Daniela and Mahesh had a W:UE ratio of 5:3, while Srebotnik/Zimonjic
were apparently much better at 11:2. Obviously from these
statistics, the match was full of error-forcing play.

Daniela and Mahesh had three break-points and converted them all;
Srebotnik/Zimonjic also had 3 BPs, but these were the ones at 0/40
when Daniela served out the match. :-)

Daniela and Mahesh won 60-40 in points.


Quotes from Daniela
-------------------

"It feels great. This was the last one I was missing and finally I
got it, thanks to an unbelievable partner on my side. I'm so happy
right now.

"This was the last one I was missing, so thankfully I've got it now
and with such a great partner. I feel fantastic. It's something
really special. It means a lot to me, especially having a partner
like Mahesh, it makes it even more special.

"I really enjoyed every minute of it. I mean, I've learned so much
in the last week, just the way to play a real, real doubles. It was
a great experience for me, and we had a lot of fun.

"Now I guess I can concentrate on my singles career."


Quotes from Mahesh
------------------

"I played against her a couple times in mixed and think I've lost
every time. So I've been trying to play with her for a long time,
but unfortunately, it never worked out.

"We had a lot of fun. We saved a match-point in the first round, and
after that she told me we're probably going to win it now.

"Our first match together we were down match-point in the super
tiebreaker. The fact that we fought hard and came out of that, we
knew we were a good team. Winning matches like that is what makes it
special. We had a very tough draw.

"Since then I think we raised our level. We had a very touch draw,
we played Jonas [Björkman] and [Lisa] Raymond in the second round
and we've got better with every match. We kept our level and if they
played better they would beat us, but I don't think anyone was up to
the task."

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

Daniela is into the mixed doubles final, which will be played on
Thursday!

Here are Daniela's doubles results since my previous report:

----------------------------
Women's Doubles: Third round
----------------------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] lt.
   Yan,Zi/Zheng,Jie, 6-3 3-6 7-5

I was there when Daniela lost to Yan and Zheng at Birmingham 2004 -
but with Nathalie Dechy.

I was there when Dani and Sugi won the doubles-title at Birmingham
2005! :-)

---------------------------
Mixed Doubles: Second round
---------------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi d.
   LISA RAYMOND/JONAS BJÖRKMAN [4], 6-2 7-6 (7/3)

----------------------------
Mixed Doubles: Quarter-final
----------------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi d.
   AI SUGIYAMA/KEVIN ULLYETT [5], 7-5 6-2

How ironic that Daniela should have to play against her current
women's doubles partner, and her old mixed doubles partner with whom
she won the Australian Open 2002 and was runner-up at Wimbledon 2002
(Daniela won Wimbledon 2001 with Leos Friedl).

Daniela just needs a US Open title to complete a career Grand Slam
in mixed doubles, having won the French Open 2005 with Fabrice
Santoro.

-------------------------
Mixed Doubles: Semi-final
-------------------------

+ Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi d.
   CORINA MORARIU/MIKE BRYAN [6], 7-6 (7/4) 7-5

-------------------
Mixed Doubles Final
-------------------

* Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi v
   Katarina Srebotnik/Nenad Zimonjic

A win for Daniela would complete a career Grand Slam in mixed
doubles! (Australian Open 2002, French Open 2005, Wimbledon 2001, US
Open 2005?).

--------------------------
Order of play for Thursday
--------------------------

Arthur Ashe (start 11:00 EDT = 15:00 GMT = 16:00 BST)
MD sf: BJÖRKMAN/MIRNYI [1] v BLACK/ULLYETT [4]
XD final: Srebotnik/Zimonjic v Hantuchová/Bhupathi
MS qf: LLEYTON HEWITT [3] v Jarkko Nieminen (not before 14:00)
|
(start 19:30 EDT = 23:30 GMT = 24:30 BST)
MS qf: ROGER FEDERER [1] v DAVID NALBANDIAN [11]
Men's 35 Masters: Grabb/Reneberg v Seguso/Wheaton

Vel'a št'astia, Daniela!

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======----
Third round
-----------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20] lt. VENUS WILLIAMS [10], 6-3 6-3

Daniela has now lost in the third round of six Grand Slams in a row.

I'm disappointed that Daniela couldn't manage a better scoreline
after her fine form in the American summer hardcourt-season, but
apparently Williams "lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium with her trademark
blend of power and athleticism" [www.wtatour.com]

Daniela had 10 break-points against Williams, but only converted one
of them, and didn't help her own cause by getting only 50% of first
serves in.


The match started at approximately 19:30 EDT, but I couldn't follow
live scores at www.usopen.org because my (terribly, terribly tempted
to insert a swearword here, but of course that would never do)
Internet-connection was down! :-|| So I caught up with the match at
the scoring-thread (thanks to ILuvVenus07 and TheBoiledEgg for
details of play):
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=189844&page=35

First Set
---------
HANTUCHO __* *@___ 3
WILLIAMS @* *__@*@ 6

Daniela serving 0-0: 15/0, Williams forehand winner, 15/15, 30/15,
30/30, 30/40 (break-point), broken. Daniela made errors in that
game, seemingly intimidated by Williams's court-coverage.

Williams serving 1-0: 15/0, 15/15, 15/30, Daniela forehand winner
down the line, 15/40 (2 BPs) -> 40/40, Daniela forehand winner,
ad D (BP #3), Deuce #2, ad D (BP #4), Williams forehand winner,
Deuce #3, ad W, Deuce #4, ad D (BP #5), Williams forehand winner,
Deuce #5, "Daniela winner on the line", ad D (BP #6), Deuce #6,
Williams volley-winner, ad W, held.

Oh dear! All those wasted opportunities, sadly so characteristic of
Daniela. But it seems that Williams dominated most of the points
with either service-winners or double faults.

Daniela serving 0-2: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, Daniela forehand winner,
30/30, 40/30, held.
Williams serving 2-1: 15/0, ace, 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, Daniela
dropshot-winner, 40/30, 40/40, ad W, held.

Daniela serving 1-3: "HUGE Venus forehand return winner off first
serve", 0/15, 30/15, Williams forehand winner down the line, 30/30,
double fault, 30/40 (BP), 40/40, ad D, Deuce #2, ad D, held.

Williams serving 3-2: two double faults, 0/40 (3 BPs) -> 40/40
(three big first serves and a forehand winner), Daniela off-forehand
winner, ad D (BP #4), Williams forehand error - broken!

Daniela serving 3-3: second-serve ace, 15/0, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Williams serving 4-3: Williams backhand winner, forehand winner,
came to net to force Daniela into error, 40/0, 40/15, held.

Daniela serving to stay in the first set at 3-5: 15/0, double fault,
15/15, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (SP), Daniela lost the first set 6-3 at
20:18. Good rallies with forced errors in that game.


Second Set
----------
HANTUCHO ___* * *_ 3
WILLIAMS *@* * * * 6

Williams serving 0-0: forehand winner, 15/0, 15/15, ace, 30/15,
30/30, Williams volley-winner, 40/30, held.

Daniela serving 0-1: double fault, 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 30/30,
Williams backhand return-winner down the line, 30/40 (BP), Williams
forehand winner - broken.

Williams serving 2-0: double fault, 0/15, 15/15, one-two punch with
forehand winner, 30/15, one-two punch with backhand winner, 40/15,
ace - held.

Daniela serving 0-3: double fault, 0/15, 15/15, Daniela backhand
winner, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Williams serving 3-1: 40/0, 40/15, Williams backhand winner - held.
Daniela serving 1-4: 15/0, Daniela volley-winner, 30/0, 40/0,
Daniela forehand winner - held.

Williams serving 4-2: 15/0, Williams 119mph serve + backhand winner,
30/0, 30/15, 40/15, Daniela lob-winner (after 122mph serve!), 40/30,
held.

Daniela serving to stay in the match at 2-5: "nice lob from Daniela
again", 15/0, Daniela backhand winner, 30/0, service-winner, 40/0,
Williams volley-winner, 40/15 -> 40/40, ace, ad D, held.

Williams serving for the match at 5-3: Daniela forehand return-
error, 15/0, Daniela forehand return long, 30/0, Williams forehand
winner, 40/0 (3 MPs), Daniela lob-volley winner just in, 40/15,
Williams won 6-3 6-3 at 20:53.


Statistics
----------

Daniela's serve was too poor to compete with Williams: she got only
50% of first serves in, winning 61% of the points when she did so,
and a measly 46% on second serve (Williams 65%, 74% and 34% - her
second-serve percentage improved from 19% in the first set to 54% in
the second). Daniela served 2 aces and 5 double faults, Williams 3
aces and 6 double faults.

Williams served much faster than Daniela: fastest 122 - 109mph,
average first serve 108 - 102mph. But Daniela's second serve was
faster than Williams's: 92mph - 87mph.

Daniela had a W:UE ratio of 15:21, Williams 27:23. It's very
difficult to hit winners past Williams because she covers the court
so well and has such long limbs, so to hit 15 winners past her in 18
games (Daniela hit 7 winners in the first set, 8 in the second) is a
pretty respectable statistic.

Williams was much more aggressive from the net, winning 10 of 17
points there (Daniela 4 of 7).

But the key statistic is that Daniela had TEN break-points (all in
the first set) and only broke ONCE, whereas Williams broke 4 times
from 5 break-points.

So Daniela had twice as many opportunities as Williams, but the
winner of a tennis-match is always going to be the player who plays
the key points better on the day, and apparently Williams played the
break-points very well indeed.


Quotes
------

Daniela: "If I was able to capitalize at 3-3, I think I would have
had a chance, maybe. But I have to give her all the credit. She
played unbelievable.

"I've got to give her all the credit for the way she served. When
she got up, she really stepped up her game, came up with some big
shots. I can't do anything about the draw. I can't change it now.
But definitely was a tough one for me."


Venus: "I think today was definitely my best match. I got used to
the wind. Maybe the next match the wind will be gone, but I finally
got used to it. It was nice also I guess to play a player that I
have played before, too. I think that helped out."


Daniela's post-match press-conference:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X6AB42BBB

Daniela looks and sounds very disappointed. She talks about her good
form going into the US Open, only to get yet another tough draw in a
Grand Slam. She identifies the game at 3-3 in the first set as the
point where it all started to go wrong for her. She defends Nigel
Sears as being a good coach for her.

Kimberley_82's transcription:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6125112


Wintermute's match-report:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6117535

-----------------------------
Women's Doubles: Second round (Saturday)
-----------------------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] d.
   Amy Frazier/Alina Jidkova, 2-6 6-3 6-3

---------------------------------
Women's Doubles: Third-round draw
---------------------------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] v Yan,Zi/Zheng,Jie

--------------------------------
Mixed Doubles: Second-round draw
--------------------------------

* Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi v
   LISA RAYMOND/JONAS BJÖRKMAN [4]


Daniela's US Open 2005 profile (with three new photos):
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/bios/ws/wtah394.html

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======--------
Women's Doubles
---------------

First round:
+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] d.
   Alexa Glatch/Vania King [WC], 7-5 6-0

Second-round draw:
* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] v Amy Frazier/Alina Jidkova

-------------
Mixed Doubles
-------------

First round:
+ Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi d.
   Sun,Tiantian/Simon Aspelin, 4-6 6-3 Super Tiebreak (11/9)

Super tiebreak in lieu of third set: Daniela/Mahesh *1/0,
*1/5 -> *5/5, 5/7*, *6/7, *6/8 -> 8/8*, *8/9 (their match-point),
*9/9, 10/9* (our match-point), Daniela and Mahesh won the super
tiebreak 11/9.


Second-round draw:
* Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi v
   LISA RAYMOND/JONAS BJÖRKMAN [4]

------------------------
Order of play for Friday
------------------------

Arthur Ashe (start 11:00 EDT = 15:00 GMT = 16:00 BST)
MS 2r: Nicolás Almagro v TAYLOR DENT [25]
WS 3r: MARIA SHARAPOVA [1] v Julia Schruff
WS 3r: FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE [25] v SERENA WILLIAMS [8]
|
(start 19:00 EDT = 23:00 GMT = 00:00 BST)
WS 3r: VENUS WILLIAMS [10] v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20]
MS 2r: ROGER FEDERER [1] v Fabrice Santoro

Vel'a št'astia, Daniela!

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

Photos:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova

Video highlights:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6097852 (selected points)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6100477 (final game)

------------
Second round
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20] d. María Emilia Salerni [Q], 6-1 6-0

Daniela has never in her career won 6-0 6-0 or 6-1 6-0 before (she
beat Henrieta Nagyová 6-0 6-1 in 2r Rome 2001), and to match the 6-1
6-0 scoreline that Maria Sharapova had won by earlier in the day...
wow! (Maria lost 25 points, Daniela just 21.)

It was an extremely windy day at the US Open - up to 36mph (the
remnants of Hurricane Katrina). Wind is often an equaliser in
tennis, so it's surprising that the top seeds won their matches so
easily in this extreme wind.


The match started at 16:32 EDT, and I followed live scores at
www.usopen.org; here are my comments as I wrote them at the time
(not that I have many comments, with the match being so simple):

First Set
---------
HANTUCH *@* *@* 6
SALERNI ___*___ 1

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

Daniela won 10 points in a row from 0-0 (15/15) to 2-0 (40/0).

Salerni serving 0-3: 15/0, 15/30, 30/30, 30/40 (BP), 40/40, ad S,
held.
Daniela serving 3-1: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Salerni serving 1-4: 15/0, 15/40 (2 BPs), 30/40, broken.
Daniela serving for the first set at 5-1: 0/15, 40/15 (2 SPs),
Daniela won the first set 6-1 at 16:59.


Second Set
----------
HANTUCH @*@*@
SALERNI _____

Salerni serving 0-0: 0/15, 30/15, 30/30, 30/40, broken.
Daniela serving 1-0: 40/0, 40/15, held.
Salerni serving 0-2: 0/40 (3 BPs) -> 40/40, ad D (BP #4), broken.

That was Salerni's big chance to get into the match. For a moment
there, it looked like Daniela had got back into her bad old
opportunity-squandering ways, but it would take a miracle for
Salerni to shatter Daniela's confidence in this match now.

Daniela serving 3-0: 30/0, 30/15, 40/15, held.
Salerni serving 0-4: 15/0, 15/40 (2 BPs), broken.
Daniela serving for the match at 5-0: 0/30 -> 40/30 (MP),
Daniela won 6-1 6-0 at 17:24 (52 minutes).


Statistics
----------

Daniela had an impressive W:UE ratio of 14:8, while Salerni had a
woeful 3:23.

Daniela got 58% of first serves in (Salerni 59%), winning 90% of the
points when she did so (Salerni 27%) and 60% on her second serve
(Salerni 41%). In the first set, Salerni was winning just 20% of
points when she got her first serve in, and 63% on second serve -
she would have been better off just taking two second serves! ;-)

Daniela served 5 aces and one double fault (Salerni no aces and 3
DFs), and served faster than Salerni (fastest 109 - 105mph, average
first serve 101 - 97 mph, second serve 82 - 76mph).

Daniela broke 5 times from 10 break-points, without having to face a
single break-point against her own serve.

Daniela won 52-21 in points, dropping 11 points in the first set and
just 10 in the second.

--------------------
Third-round opponent
--------------------

VENUS WILLIAMS [10]:
1r + Rika Fujiwara, 6-3 6-1
2r + Maria Kirilenko, 6-1 6-3

Williams has dropped three more games than Daniela in getting to the
third round. It's a good sign that Daniela has won through so
easily - having to struggle through tough matches has not helped
Daniela in the past when she's had to play a Williams sister in the
next round.

-------------------------------
Mixed Doubles: First-round draw
-------------------------------

* Daniela Hantuchová/Mahesh Bhupathi v Sun,Tiantian/Simon Aspelin

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

Wintermute's 1r match-report:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=6078625

---------------------------------
Women's Doubles: First-round draw
---------------------------------

* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ/AI SUGIYAMA [5] v Alexa Glatch/Vania King [WC]

---------------------------
Order of Play for Wednesday
---------------------------

Armstrong (start 11:00 EDT = 15:00 GMT = 16:00 BST)
MS 1r: Lars Burgsmüller v TAYLOR DENT [25]
WS 2r: Maria Elena Camerin v Sania Mirza
WS 2r: María Emilia Salerni [Q] v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20]
MD 1r: Delic/Morrison [WC] v PAES/ZIMONJIC [5]

Želám Daniele zdravie, št'astie a úspech!

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

Photos - a nice new outfit for Daniela:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=188795

-----------
First round
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20] d. Camille Pin, 6-3 6-1

Same opponent, same round, same court (11) as last year's US Open,
where Daniela had struggled to a 1-6 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (11/9) victory
after surviving her opponent serving for the match (for once in
Daniela's career), and saving two match-points in the final-set
tiebreak.

What a difference a year makes.

Today's final scoreline conceals a very tight first set with only
one break-point: it was for Daniela and she took it! :-) Daniela was
pegged back from game-points up on her own serve several times in
the first set, but came through all her service-games unbroken.

The bubble burst for Pin when, serving at 3-6 1-1, she lost a 40/15
lead.


The match started at 13:26 EDT, and I followed live scores at
www.usopen.org. Here are my comments as I wrote them at the time:

First Set
---------
HAN * * *@* * 6
PIN _* *___*_ 3

Daniela serving 0-0: 40/0 -> 40/40, ad D, held.

Phew! A bout of Alexandra Stevenson's syndrome (getting broken from
40/0 up) is not the way to start a Grand Slam campaign!

Pin serving 0-1: 0/15, 30/15, 40/30, held.
Daniela serving 1-1: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad D, held.

So far so good, but I hope this isn't going to be one of Daniela's
trademark days of missed opportunities that have earned her the
nickname "Choketuchová" in General Messages at WTAworld.com. :-o
I thought she had got over that in recent weeks.

You can buy God, it's Monday
You slither down the greasy pipe
So far so good, no one saw you
Hobble over any freeway
You will be like your dreams tonight
[David Bowie, "Joe The Lion"]

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

And still the pattern of Daniela being pegged back on serve
continues. This does not bode well for what might happen in a tight
situation, e.g. if this match goes to 4-4 in the third.

W:UE ratios so far: Daniela 6:12, Pin 0:6.
Daniela has served two double faults already.

Pin serving 2-3: 0/15, 15/15, 15/30, 40/30, 40/40, ad P, Deuce #2,
ad D (BP), Deuce #3, ad D (BP #2), broken!
Daniela serving 4-2: held to love.

That's more like it! A confidence-surge for Daniela.
And Pin now has a W:UE ratio of 0:10.

Pin serving to stay in the first set at 2-5: held to love.
Daniela serving for the first set at 5-3: 40/0 (3 SPs), 40/15,
Daniela won the first set 6-3 at 14:00.

Phew! The scoreboard was stuck on 40/15 for four minutes!

W:UE ratios for the first set: Daniela 12:19, Pin 1:10.


Second Set
----------
HAN _*@*@*@ 6
PIN *______ 1

Pin serving 0-0: scoreboard froze... held.
Daniela serving 0-1: 15/15, 40/15, 40/30, held.
Pin serving 1-1: 15/15, 40/15 -> 40/40, ad D (BP), Deuce #2, ad D,
broken!

Now it's Pin getting pegged back on serve, and unlike Daniela in the
first set, she has to pay for it! So Daniela is now winning not only
the tennis-match, but also the mental battle. I can't see Daniela
losing this match now.

Daniela serving 2-1: 0/15, 40/15, held.
Pin serving 1-3: 15/0, 30/30, 40/30, 40/40, ad D (BP), Deuce #2,
ad P, Deuce #3, ad D (BP #2), broken.

Yep. She's gone. I have no doubt that I'll be eating my dinner, with
a big smile on my face, in ten minutes from now (14:24 EDT).

Daniela serving 4-1: 15/0, 15/15, 40/15, held.
Pin serving to stay in the match at 1-5: 30/0, 40/30, 40/40,
ad D (MP), Daniela won 6-3 6-1 at 14:28.

Well, I /would/ be, if the scoreboard had not jammed on match-point
at 14:30! But I see from the IBM NetCam that Young and Galimberti
are already on Court 11, so Daniela must have either won or retired
by now! (14:37)


Statistics
----------

Pin was very accurate with her first serve, getting 80% in, but she
was not very successful, winning only 58% of the points when she did
so, and 50% on second serve. The corresponding statistics for
Daniela were much healthier (66%, 79% and 64%).

There were five aces in the match - all from Daniela! They served
three double faults each (all of Daniela's in the first set, all of
Pin's in the second). Daniela's serve was much faster than Pin's
(fastest 109 - 88mph, average first serve 104 - 79mph, average
second serve 80 - 73mph).

Daniela had a W:UE ratio of 23:36, while Pin's was a pathetic 2:18.
With all due respect to Pin, Daniela's going to have to cut down the
unforced errors if she's going to reach her first Grand Slam fourth
round since the Australian Open 2003.

Daniela dominated Pin from the net, winning 13 of 15 points there,
while Pin only went to the net once in the match, giving herself a
completely meaningless 100% of points won at the net.

If you look at the statistics for each set individually, there's not
much difference except that Daniela was even more dominant with her
first serve in the second set, but most of her net-play occurred in
the first set. Also, Daniela's percentage of points won on second
serve dropped to 40% in the second set, despite all her double
faults coming in the first set - so I guess she ought to go for
bigger second serves.

Daniela had four break-points in the match and converted every
single one, without facing a single break-point against her own
serve! She beat Pin by 61 points to 45.

It's clear from the statistics that Daniela completely dominated the
match - Pin only won 9 points that weren't unforced errors by
Daniela!

-----------------
Second-round draw
-----------------

Daniela's 2r opponent:
+ María Emilia Salerni [Q] d. Jessica Kirkland [WC],
   6-4 3-6 7-6 (7/0)

I'm pleased about this. I saw María Emilia play Arantxa Sánchez
Vicario at Wimbledon 2001, and I found her to be quite a cute and
flairsome player. She may not have a pretty face, but the sexiest
legs in tennis! ;-)


Daniela's US Open profile:
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/bios/ws/wtah394.html

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======-----------------
Order of Play for Monday
------------------------

Court 11 (start 11:00 EDT = 15:00 GMT = 16:00 BST)
WS 1r: Alyona Bondarenko v AI SUGIYAMA [30]
WS 1r: Camille Pin v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20]
MS 1r: Giorgio Galimberti [Q] v Donald Young [WC]
MS 1r: RICHARD GASQUET [13] v Alberto Martín

Vel'a št'astia, Daniela!


Full order of play:
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/

--
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/

=======
US OPEN (Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, Decoturf, Grand Slam)
=======

This is an excerpt from my analysis of the whole draw (which
includes round-by-round wishes):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/message/2717

----------------
First-round draw
----------------
Daniela Hantuchová's quarter
----------------------------

* KIM CLIJSTERS [4] v Martina Müller [Q]
* Ashley Harkleroad [WC] v Fabiola Zuluaga
* Michaela Paštiková v Rita Grande
* Alyona Bondarenko v AI SUGIYAMA [30] (davai Alyona!)

* ANA IVANOVIC [18] v Lindsay Lee-Waters (ajde Ana!)
* Sanda Mamic v Maria Vento-Kabchi
* Marta Domachowska v Shahar Peer (dawaj Marta!)
* Tiffany Dabek [Q] v VERA DOUCHEVINA [33]

* VENUS WILLIAMS [10] v Rika Fujiwara
* Laura Pous Tio v Maria Kirilenko (davai Maria!)
* María Emilia Salerni [Q] v Jessica Kirkland [WC] (ˇvamos María!)
* Camille Pin v DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [20] (pod'me Daniela!)

* FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE [25] v Jelena Kostanic
* Peng,Shuai v Emma Laine [Q] (jia you Shuai!)
* Alina Jidkova v Catalina Castańo (davai Alina!)
* Chan,Yung-Jan [Q] v SERENA WILLIAMS [8]


FIRST ROUND: Daniela also played Pin in 1r US Open 2004, winning 1-6
7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (11/9)! But Daniela is now close to her best, with
recent victories over Elena Dementieva and her US Open 2004
conqueror Patty Schnyder. Whereas Pin is ranked #105, and has been
interleaving the WTA Tour with the ITF Women's Circuit this year,
finishing runner-up at ITF Bronx last week (Daniela won the title
there in 2000). I expect a much more straightforward victory for
Daniela this time... but you never know with Daniela!


SECOND ROUND: Jessica Kirkland has been struggling to make an impact
on the ITF Women's Circuit this year, let alone the WTA Tour (apart
from an aberrational run to the fourth round of Indian Wells). So
the real question is who the qualifier will be - who can win four
matches in a row to get to a second round against Daniela? The
answer is María Emilia Salerni, who won the Girls' Singles at
Wimbledon 2000, and has even nicer legs than Daniela. ;-)


THIRD ROUND: The seedings decree a repeat of Daniela's Wimbledon 3r
against Venus Williams, and their head-to-heads would suggest
Daniela losing in the third round for the sixth Grand Slam in a row.
But Williams hasn't played since losing the Stanford final to Kim
Clijsters last month, because she's had 'flu - I'm not sure what
impact that will have on her ability to reach the third round, but
I'm reminded of the Australian and French Opens, where Elena
Dementieva and Kim Clijsters both nearly withdrew before the
tournament, and both beat Daniela in the third round! :-|| The
Williams sisters often save themselves for the Grand Slams, and they
do this more effectively than any other player.

I would, of course, prefer a mouthwatering Daniela v Maria Kirilenko
third round, and I pray that Little Maria's left knee will be better
by the time the Open starts. But it's difficult to envisage Little
Maria upsetting Venus Williams - or a 34th-seeded Peng,Shuai if
Williams withdraws.

What I'd really like, of course, would be a Daniela v Maria
Sharapova semi-final, but Daniela might have to beat Venus Williams,
Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters back-to-back, and her head-to-
heads against them are 0-7, 0-3 and 0-7 respectively! :-o

--
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/