=============
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Grand Slam)
============= http://www.rolandgarros.com/
Photos
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http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova

http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=210331&page=25

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/photos/
(Saturday June 3 (women))

Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Videos:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=145909&page=13

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Third round (Saturday 3rd June)
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [15] d. NATHALIE DECHY [21], 6-3 3-6 10-8

I saw the whole match on BBCi - all 2h35m of it - and it was a high-
quality match from both players. Daniela played brilliantly in the
first set, but then Dechy played the best I've ever seen her play. I
really enjoyed watching the first two sets.

But the third set was overlong and horribly tense - it was like
reliving the Shinobu Asagoe nightmare from Wimbledon 2003, with
Daniela losing a 5-2* lead in the third set (albeit without the
tears, the missed match-points and the ultimate loss). It could have
been so much simpler had Daniela not missed an easy forehand at 2-1*
(30/0) in the third.

I thought Daniela was out of it when Dechy served for the match at
7-6, because Daniela rarely survives her opponent serving for the
match. But she played a good game to break back, and two brilliant
games from 8-8 to the end - highlighted by a half-volley dropshot-
winner at 9-8* (15/15).


The match started at 11:13 CEST on Court Chatrier. Daniela's facial
beauty was particularly good today, and she looked very fetching in
a pink-and-white outfit with pink shorts.

Sam Smith described Dechy as a "careful, methodical player who plots
the rally three shots in advance". She put Dechy's 2006 slump down
to overcautiousness.


First Set:
HANTU *@* *@__* 6
DECHY ___*__@*_ 3

Daniela serving 0-0: Daniela jumped out to 40/15 with a marvellous
short-angled crosscourt backhand winner and a beautifully flighted
backhand lob-winner. But she got pegged back to deuce with two
unforced errors. Dechy appeared to have the initiative in the rally,
but Daniela came up with a magnificent crosscourt forehand winner.
Ad Daniela. Daniela got away with a poor dropshot that Dechy blasted
long.

Dechy serving 0-1: Daniela hit a fantastic backhand winner down the
line - which is her trademark-shot, after all. 0/15 -> 30/30.
Daniela hit a precise forehand winner down the line to give herself
break-point at 30/40. And she broke with another backhand winner
down the line - Daniela seems to be on great form today!

Sam Smith said that Daniela's first-strike capability is crucial if
her poor mobility is not to be exploited.

Daniela serving 2-0: Daniela held to 15 with an unspectacular game,
just working Dechy around the court. Daniela sealed it with a
crosscourt forehand winner.

Sam Smith accused Dechy of being too passive, but said that she and
Daniela were the most intelligent players on the tour along with
Elena Dementieva.

Dechy serving 0-3: held to love with errors from Daniela.

Daniela serving 3-1: 0/15. Daniela hit a superb-angled angled
crosscourt backhand winner. Sam Smith: "She does know how to break
up the play when she's thinking clearly." 15/15. Daniela hit a
crosscourt forehand winner, with good footwork to get her body out
of the way. 30/15. Ace down the middle. 40/15. Daniela hit a
forehand smash-winner.

Only Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Martina Navrátilová and
Daniela have won all four Grand Slams in Mixed Doubles! Daniela does
have the advantage that she can get any man she likes as a doubles-
partner! ;-)

Dechy serving 1-4: Dechy CCFW. 15/0. Dechy netted an easy smash.
15/15. Dechy going for too much. 30/40. Daniela pushed a chopped
forehand long and wide. Daniela hit a virtual forehand return-winner
down the line. Ad Daniela (BP #2). And she broke with a flairsome
crosscourt forehand winner!

The male commentator compared Daniela with Maria Sharapova, not only
in terms of their physique, but in terms of their deliberate
approach, taking a lot of time between points.

Daniela serving for the first set at 5-1: Daniela netted a forehand.
0/15. Dechy had a dead netcord-winner. 0/30. Daniela forehand long.
0/40 (3 BPs). Dechy blasted a backhand return-winner down the line
to break back.

Dechy serving to stay in the first set at 2-5: Dechy looked much
more confident now, hitting an off-forehand winner. 15/0. Daniela
forehand just long. 30/0. Daniela stopped Dechy's winning-streak at
6 points hit an error-forcing off-backhand winner plumb on the
sideline. 30/15. Daniela forehand winner down the line - great
wingspan. 30/30. Daniela backhand just long. 40/30. Daniela hit a
short, weak sliced backhand return, giving Dechy an easy off-
forehand winner.

Daniela serving for the first set at 5-3: Service-winner. 15/0.
Daniela hit a beautiful backhand dropshot-winner. 30/0. Service-
winner. 40/0 (3 SPs). Daniela sealed it with a good wide serve to
set up a crosscourt forehand winner. She won the first set 6-3 at
12:48.

Daniela is playing very well, but there's a lot to be worried about
in the second set as Dechy is now playing much better than she did
to go 1-5 down, and is probably equal to Daniela in momentum right
now. Daniela can't afford a lapse in the second set.


Second Set:
HANTU ____@* *_ 3
DECHY *@*@__* * 6

Dechy serving 0-0: held to 15 with some rather cheap errors from
Daniela.

Daniela serving 0-1: Daniela hit an off-backhand just inside the
sideline to set up an excellent backhand dropshot-winner. 15/0.
Daniela dropped the ball short, and was forced to net a forehand
pass. 15/15. Daniela hit an error-forcing crosscourt forehand smash
(which would have been a clean winner on anything but clay). 30/15.
Daniela forehand long by a whisker. 30/30. Daniela hit a panicky
forehand wide. 30/40 (BP). Daniela went for a big crosscourt
forehand onto the sideline, but it was just wide, giving Dechy the
break.

The tide has definitely turned in Dechy's favour now. Daniela needs
to stay positive if she's going to win this match.

Dechy serving 2-0: Dechy dominated the point, got a short ball and
hit an off-forehand winner. 15/0. Dechy got a dead-netcord winner
and looked delighted. 30/0 -> 30/15. Dechy forehand smash-winner.
40/15. Daniela forehand return-winner. 40/30. Daniela netted a
forehand return.

Daniela serving 0-3: 0/15. Dechy hit a great forehand pass-winner
behind Daniela. 0/30. Dechy, full of confidence, hit an off-backhand
return-winner. 0/40 (3 BPs). Daniela saved the first with a
crosscourt backhand winner. 15/40. Daniela hit a big, error-forcing
forehand. 30/40. Dechy hit an off-forehand winner off a short ball
from Daniela to get the double break.

Daniela has lost her timing, and is looking quite leaden-footed. But
her big problem is the massive improvement in Dechy's form compared
to the first set.

Dechy serving 4-0: 15/15. Daniela hit a huge, skidding, error-
forcing off-forehand. 15/30. Daniela went for broke on a return, and
made a crosscourt forehand winner right in the corner.
15/40 (2 BPs). Dechy forehand volley-winner. 30/40 (BP). Daniela hit
a dropshot which Dechy reached easily, but put a forehand long.
Ad Daniela (BP #3). Dechy saved it with a backhand winner down the
line. Deuce #2. Daniela forehand just wide. Ad Dechy. Daniela hit an
error-forcing forehand down the line. Deuce #3. Daniela error.
Ad Dechy. Error. Deuce #4. Daniela forehand return-winner down the
line. Ad Daniela (BP #4). Daniela hit a stunning inside-out down-the-
line forehand return-winner to show Dechy that she's not the only
one playing brilliantly!

Daniela serving 1-4: 15/0. Daniela forehand dropshot-winner. 30/0.
Dechy hit a down-the-line backhand winner that would actually have
been wide if it hadn't clipped the netcord. 30/15. Ace. 40/15.
Service-winner down the middle.

Great job by Daniela to regain the momentum, but her problem now is
the score. Perhaps she should do what Venus Williams says she does:
just tell herself "you have to break, hold, break, hold, and then
you've won the match".

Dechy serving 4-2: Dechy errors. 0/30. Dechy crosscourt forehand
volley-winner. 15/30. Dechy off-forehand volley-winner. 30/30. Dechy
crosscourt forehand winner. 40/30. Daniela backhand just long.

Daniela serving to stay in the second set at 2-5: Dechy played a
good spreading rally with a superb crosscourt forehand winner. 0/15.
Service-winner. 15/15. Daniela forehand winner down the line. 30/15.
Daniela didn't do enough with a forehand volley, then put another
wide! 30/30. That seemed to have unnerved Daniela as she hit a
forehand long. 30/40 (SP). Dechy netted an easy backhand. 40/40.
Dechy hit a bullet of a backhand, but Daniela floated it right into
her forehand-corner, inducing her to hit a forehand long. Ad
Daniela. Daniela forehand wide. "When Daniela Hantuchová gets
nervous and anxious, her feet stop moving" [Sam Smith]. Deuce #2.
Daniela hit a bold backhand dropshot-winner from the baseline.
Ad Daniela. Daniela hit a deep, error-forcing forehand.

Dechy serving for the second set at 5-3: Dechy crosscourt forehand
winner. 15/0. Daniela was forced to net a forehand as Dechy upped
the pace. 30/0. Daniela forehand just long. 40/0 (SP #2). Daniela
saved it with an audacious backhand return-winner down the line!
40/15 (SP #3). Daniela netted a forehand dropshot to lose the second
set 6-3 at 13:33.

At least Daniela evened up the momentum towards the end of that set,
and Dechy is hardly a mental-strength giant herself. The good news
is that Daniela has an excellent record for winning third sets in
2006, while Dechy has won considerably less than 50% of third sets
in her career (Daniela just over 50%).


Third Set:
HANTU * * *@*___*__@* *@ 10
DECHY _* *___*@* *@__*__ 8

Daniela serving 0-0: Dechy forehand winner. 0/15 -> 40/15. Dechy
backhand winner. 40/30. Daniela hit a fantastic off-forehand winner
onto the sideline.

Dechy serving 0-1: Dechy held to 15 with a backhand winner down the
line and an ace.

Daniela serving 1-1: Daniela held to love with an ace out wide and a
searing forehand winner down the line.

Sam Smith said both players seemed content to hold serve and not
really push for a break. In which case it's particularly good that
Daniela is serving first in this final set!

Dechy serving 1-2: Daniela exerted some well-controlled pressure to
get 0/30. Wild forehand long by Daniela. 15/30. Daniela cracked a
forehand return-winner which would have been brilliant, had it not
been just wide. 30/30. Daniela missed a forehand, her nerves once
again manifest as poor footwork. Dechy held with a forehand winner
down the line, right in the corner.

Daniela serving 2-2: Daniela cracked a brilliant crosscourt forehand
winner. 15/0 -> 40/0. Service-winner. Only dropped one point on
serve in this set!

Sam Smith said Daniela looked top-ten good, but inconsistent at this
level and above.

Dechy serving 2-3: Dechy netted two forehands. 0/30. Dechy lob long.
0/40 (3 BPs). Daniela errors. 30/40. Dechy netted a backhand to give
Daniela the break!

Pattern of the match: whoever breaks first wins the set, but not
without some resistance at the end.

How will Daniela fare now that the winning-post is in sight? I'm
more nervous than at any previous time in this match, but Daniela
looks pumped up.

Daniela serving 4-2: Daniela off-forehand winner. 15/0. Dechy netted
a backhand. 30/0. Ace down the middle. 40/0. Dechy backhand wide.

Not much resistance from Dechy there, but I've seen Daniela choke
from this position before, so I'm very nervous...

Dechy serving 2-5: Daniela return long. 15/0. Dechy snatched at a
backhand, netting it - no real conviction. 15/15. Daniela lob out.
30/15. Daniela wild forehand return VERY long. 40/15. Ace out wide.

Daniela serving for the match at 5-3: Dechy off-backhand return-
winner. 0/15. Dechy netted a backhand return. 15/15. Daniela
crosscourt forehand wide by a whisker. 15/30. Dechy forehand volley-
winner. "Panic-thinking here from Hantuchová" [Sam Smith]. 15/40 (2
BPs). Dechy hit an error-forcing crosscourt backhand to break back.

"It wasn't quite meltdown there, but not a lot of clarity of
thought" [Sam Smith].

Dechy serving to stay in the match at 4-5: Dechy long. 0/15. Daniela
forehand return wide. 15/15. Daniela backhand long. 30/15. Daniela
crosscourt forehand winner right in the corner. 30/30. Dechy
forehand smash-winner. 40/15. Dechy hit a good wide serve to open
the court for a forehand winner.

Daniela serving 5-5: Daniela backhand dropshot-winner. 15/0. Dechy
snatched at a backhand winner, netting it. 30/0. Double fault (first
of the match). 30/15. Dechy backhand return-winner down the line.
30/30. Daniela error-forcing forehand down the line. 40/30. Ace down
the middle - the umpire inspected the mark, and found it good.

Dechy serving 5-6: Daniela hit a "blinding" backhand winner down the
line when she was off-balance. 0/15. Daniela lob just long. 15/15.
Daniela forehand long. 30/15. Daniela went for a big backhand down
the line, but it was just wide. 40/15. Double fault. 40/30. Dechy
hit a blazing crosscourt backhand winner onto the sideline.

Daniela serving 6-6: Daniela backhand winner onto the sideline.
15/0. Daniela netted a forehand. 15/15. Daniela forehand just wide.
15/30. Dechy forehand just long. 30/30. Daniela netted a forehand
drive-volley as her feet let her down again. 30/40 (BP). Service-
winner. 40/40. Dechy forehand smash-winner. Ad Dechy (BP #2). Dechy
came to the net, forcing Daniela to hit a backhand pass wide and
seal the crucial break.

Dechy serving for the match at 7-6: Daniela hit a backhand drive-
volley that turned into a dead netcord-winner. 0/15. Dechy off-
forehand virtual winner. 15/15. Daniela off-backhand winner. 15/30.
Dechy backhand volley wide (good backhand pass by Daniela).
15/40 (2 BPs). Dechy lob just long after a moonball-rally.

Daniela serving 7-7: Daniela backhand drop-volley winner. 15/0.
Daniela wild backhand long and wide. 15/15. Daniela hit a beautiful
crosscourt backhand drop-volley winner. 30/15. Dechy netted a
backhand. 40/15. Daniela netted a sliced backhand. 40/30. Dechy
return just long.

Dechy serving to stay in the match at 7-8: Dechy crosscourt backhand
winner. 15/0. Daniela missed a backhand return off a good serve.
30/0. Daniela wild backhand wide. 40/0. Dechy hit a backhand volley-
winner off a weak sort of mini-lob from Daniela.

Daniela serving 8-8: Ace down the middle. 15/0. Daniela crosscourt
backhand winner. 30/0. Ace out wide. 40/0. Dechy forehand return
long.

Dechy serving to stay in the match at 8-9: Dechy forehand just long.
0/15. Dechy showed great net-coverage and hit a forehand volley-
winner crosscourt. 15/15. Dechy attempted a crosscourt forehand
pass, but Daniela hit a brilliant half-volley dropshot-winner!
15/30. Double fault. 15/40 (2 MPs). Daniela wild forehand return
long off a body-jamming serve. 30/40 (MP #2). Dechy hit a forehand
just long, and the umpire had to inspect the mark to confirm
Daniela's victory. Daniela won 6-3 3-6 10-8 at 13:48 (2h35m - 1h16m
for the third set alone!).


Statistics
----------

The high quality of the match was reflected in the positive winner-
to-unforced-error ratios for both players: Daniela 45:44, Dechy
38:31.

In a predominately baseline-oriented encounter, it was Dechy who was
better at the net, winning 15 of 23 points there (Daniela 8 of 13).

Daniela got 65% of first serves in, winning 68% of the points when
she did so, and 54% on second serve (Dechy 76%, 59% and 58%). The
key to Dechy winning the second set was that she won 86% of points
on second serve there.

Daniela served 7 aces and one double fault, Dechy 2 aces and 4 DFs.

Daniela broke 6 times from 13 break-points (she is often much more
wasteful than this), Dechy 5 times from 9 BPs.

In points, Daniela won 108-101 (first set 28-22, second set 28-35,
third set 52-44).


Daniela's press-conference
--------------------------

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ: Just a big relief. I mean, I'm just so, so happy
to fight my way through this match. At the end, I think it was just
about, you know, trying to be positive and fight for every single
point. It was a great match, especially in the third set. Nathalie
was playing unbelievable. She came up with some great shots.

Yeah, I was always expecting a tough match because she's a very
experienced player, she knows the game very well, plus she had the
support of her home crowd. It was always going to be a tough match
for me. That's why it makes it even more special for me, this win.

Q. Were you expecting her to play so well and fight so well? The
beginning of the season, it hasn't been so good. She hasn't won so
many matches so far.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ: No, I didn't want to underestimate her at all
because we played each other a couple of times and it was always
quite a tough battle. Last time she beat me. I knew I had to play
really, really well to beat her. I mean, she won already two rounds
here. It's not like she was not playing well here.

As I said, she has so many experience. She always knows how to turn
the matches around. From that point of view, was a very tough match
for me.

Q. And you were ahead of her during the whole match, then all of a
sudden at 7-6 she serves for the match, then you played a really
great game.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ: Yeah, at 7-6, when I was down, I was thinking
the same, that I was the same at 5-3, that I was serving for it. She
was in the same situations at me. And I felt like, you know, I just
had to believe in myself. Also, you know, she was getting a bit
tight, like I did, when I was serving for it. I thought every game
was open. It was just about who was going to be a little more brave
at the end, maybe a little smarter with the shot selection.

Q. Is it the toughest match you have played so far this year?

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ: The longest for sure. Toughest? Yeah, probably
one of the toughest. I mean, we spent quite a time there.


Dechy quotes
------------

"She managed very well, and she played extremely well. There was a
bit of wind, and she had the wind in her favor. She decided to play
extremely relaxed, and it worked. In fact, it is exactly what I did
when I came back into the match myself."


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

* AMÉLIE MAURESMO [1] v NICOLE VAIDIŠOVÁ [16] (podme Nicole!)
* VENUS WILLIAMS [11] v PATTY SCHNYDER [7]
* MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v DINARA SAFINA [14] (DAVAI MARIA!!)
* FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE [9] v SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [8]

* JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE [5] v ANASTASIA MYSKINA [10] (davai
Anastasia!)
* ANNA-LENA GRÖNEFELD [13] v GISELA DULKO [32] (ˇvamos Gisela!)
* SHAHAR PEER [31] v MARTINA HINGIS [12] (kadima Shahar!)
* DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [15] v KIM CLIJSTERS [2] (PODME DANIELA!!)

Daniela lost to Clijsters at last year's French Open (in the third
round). Daniela has a 0-7 head-to-head against Clijsters (0-10 if
you include junior-tennis), and their last five matches have all had
dispapsinating scorelines for Daniela. :-O

Clijsters says clay is her least-favourite surface, but she was
runner-up at the French Open 2001 and 2003, and won Warszawa earlier
this month before losing to Dinara Safina in the third round of Rome.

Clijsters has reached the fourth round with the following results:
1r + Virginie Razzano, 6-0 7-6 (7/4)
2r + Conchita Martínez Granados, 6-0 6-3
3r + ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [26], 6-3 6-4

She looked quite lacklustre today, but when you're #2 in the world,
you almost always manage to do what is necessary to win against any
given opponent.

I should like nothing better than to watch Daniela grind Mingin'
Clijsters into the red dirt (and go on to win the title), but she'll
be facing her possibly less than 24 hours after completing her 2h35m
marathon over Dechy, which probably gives her no chance at all. :-||

I don't understand why they play both halves of the women's fourth
round on Sunday, when they only play one half of the men's. Now that
the Grand Slam is fifteen days long, there's really no excuse for
not having a day off before every singles-match (except in case of
bad weather, of course - Clijsters will be playing her third match
in as many days on Sunday).

Clijsters: "That's going to be a completely different match than the
one I had today. Daniela is a player that if you play into her
racquet, she's one of the cleanest ball-hitters out there. She
strikes the ball so well and clean. I have to try to go for the
lines and be aggressive, but also make sure I use the angles well.
She had a tough match today, very close one. But, you know, I'm
looking forward to play her tomorrow."

------------------------
Order of Play for Sunday
------------------------

Court Lenglen (start 11:00 CEST = 09:00 GMT = 10:00 BST)
1. WS 4r: MARIA SHARAPOVA [4] v DINARA SAFINA [14]
2. MS 3r: Juan Mónaco v IVAN LJUBICIC [4] (to finish: 5th set *2-4)
3. WS 4r: DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [15] v KIM CLIJSTERS [2]
4. MS 4r: GASTÓN GAUDIO [10] v NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO [6]
5. MS 4r: DAVID NALBANDIAN [3] v Martin Vassallo Arguello [Q]

I'm relieved that they've inserted a breather between Maria and
Daniela!

Full order of play:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/

Daniela's Roland Garros profile:
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/bios/ws/wtah394.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/