============================
DUBAI DUTY-FREE WOMEN'S OPEN
(Dubai, United Arab Emirates; outdoor hard; WTA Tier II)
============================

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8]:
1r + Elena Vesnina, 6-1 6-3
2r + Maria Kirilenko, 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7/4)
qf - AMÉLIE MAURESMO [2], 3-6 6-3 4-6

Two mouthwatering matches, then the muscular reality.

Why must Daniela always struggle through a long three-setter to beat
a lower-ranked player (Little Maria was #32 to Daniela's #19), and
then have to play a top-three player the next day?

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

Off-court:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/photogallery/?Event=dubai
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=278892&page=6 (pp.6-8)

Daniela so pure and white!

On-court:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=278875&page=11 (and p.12)
http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/photogallery/default.asp

Daniela so graceful, long-limbed and elegant!

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

Arabian Hospitality;
Tuesday, February 20, 2007;
(no Daniela v Kirilenko in Wednesday's highlights! :-|| )
Thursday, February 22, 2007:
http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/videogallery/default.asp

Article: "Hantuchová Treated to the Best in Arabian Hospitality":
http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/news/2007/news15.asp

-----------
First round (Tuesday 20th February)
-----------

Nice winner, nice loser:
+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8] d. Elena Vesnina, 6-1 6-3

Elena has previously proved that she is beautiful and sexy, but
Daniela made her look like chopped liver with rings under her eyes!
;-)


First set
---------
HANTUCH * *@*@* 6
VESNINA _*_____ 1

The first set was very straightforward until Daniela served for it at
*5-1. She wasted one set-point (40/30), then had to save a break-
point before closing it out.


Second set
----------
HANTUCH __@* *@*@ 6
VESNINA *@__*____ 3

Serving at *2-3, Daniela had to save three break-points before
levelling up at 3-3*, but Elena offered very little resistance after
that.


Articles
--------

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
No.8 seed Hantuchová was first up on Centre Court, and needed one
hour, 12 minutes to beat Russia's Elena Vesnina, 6-1 6-3.
A combination of solid serving and groundstrokes from the No.19-
ranked Hantuchová proved to be the key to success.

The 23-year-old Slovak broke early to lead 3-1, then widened the gap
to 5-1. Vesnina couldn't make a dent in Hantuchová's game, and failed
to convert on the only break-point she had in the first set.

The No.56-ranked Vesnina broke early in the second set to lead 2-0,
but then failed to hold serve. She had three break-points leading
3-2, but a resilient Hantuchová saved all three to bring the set to
3-all.

After that, Hantuchová cruised, losing only two points for the rest
of the match.
<<<

Associated Press (AP):
>>>
Hantuchová, who dropped only one point on her serve in the first set,
raced to a 5-1 lead. Vesnina broke in the second set to lead 2-0, but
Hantuchová recovered, dropping just two points in the final three
games.
<<<

Barry Wood (Reuters):
>>>
Eighth seed Daniela Hantuchová dismissed Russia's Elena Vesnina 6-1
6-3, surrendering just one point in her first three service-games,
and closing out the match in style by conceding two in the final
three games.
<<<

http://www.dhantuchova.com/news.php?id=256
>>>
Svelte Slovak Daniela Hantuchová made a winning start to her Dubai
Tennis Championships campaign on Tuesday, claiming a comprehensive
6-1 6-3 victory over Russia's Elena Vesnina.

Some solid serving and strong groundstrokes always gave eighth-seeded
Hantuchová the advantage against Vesnina, and it was only a matter of
time before she made a breakthrough against her less experienced
opponent.

That came when Hantuchová broke to lead 3-1, and she increased her
lead by breaking again for 5-1. Up until then, Hantuchová had given
up just one point on serve, but she then struggled to serve out the
set, holding off a break-point before taking it 6-1.

Vesnina briefly gained the upper hand in the second set, breaking for
2-0 but then dropping her own serve in the next game. Hantuchová then
had to fight off three break-points as Vesnina led 3-2, but after
holding for 3-3, Hantuchová gave up only two more points in the match.
<<<

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

"It's my third time here, so I knew what to expect from the court.
It's usually windy and not easy, but I felt like I dealt with the
conditions well.

"I also knew she came here quite late, and I was here already for a
couple of days getting ready, so definitely I felt I had an advantage
over her and used it in the right way.

"I haven't really fulfilled my potential and what's inside me, and
hopefully it's going to come out. Overall, I'm just trying to be a
bit smarter and calmer around the court."

------------
Second round (Wednesday 21st February)
------------

Nice winner, nice loser:
+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8] d. Maria Kirilenko, 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7/4)

For Little Maria, this is typical of the kinds of losses she's been
having - particularly in late 2006. She wins the first set easily,
but loses out in a tight third set. She doesn't seem to have the
confidence to close out matches at the moment.

Nigel Sears is an ex-coach of both Daniela and Little Maria. He
parted company with Daniela just after the Slovakia v Great Britain
Fed Cup tie of April 2006, and in December, he left Maria and became
Fed Cup captain for Great Britain!

http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/news/2007/news26.asp
>>>
Eighth seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchová was also involved in a battle
for survival against Russia's Maria Kirilenko, eventually claiming a
2-6 6-4 7-6(4) win in a draining two hours 18 minutes.
<<<

First set
---------
HANTUCHOV ___* *__ 2
KIRILENKO *@* * *@ 6


Second set
----------
HANTUCHOV _* * *@* * 6
KIRILENKO * * *___*_ 4

Maria saved two break-points at *2-2 (15/40) and held for 3-2*.
Daniela recovered from 0/30 to hold for 3-3*, and then from 30/0 to
break for *4-3! Three easy service-games later, Daniela had levelled
the match.


Third set
---------
HANTUCHOV @*__@ @*___* 7(7)
KIRILENKO __*@ @__*@*_ 6(4)

HantuCHOKEová led 2-0*, *3-2, 5-3* and *5-4 (30/0), but did well to
recover from *5-6 (0/15), and was always ahead in the tiebreak, which
went 2/0, 2/1, 3/1, 3/2, 5/2, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4.


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

"I was really pleased the way I just kept fighting for every point,
because it was not easy. I wasn't playing my best, especially in the
first set, but I just tried to turn it around and find my rhythm on
the shots. The one thing that got me through was my belief.

"We were both playing great at some stages, and then playing
horrible, but I was expecting it was going to be like that, because
Maria also goes for her shots, and we both like to hit a lot of
winners."

^["horrible" is such a harsh word here. I would much rather watch
players who go for their shots and hit a lot of winners, than boring
players who just keep the ball in play until their opponents make an
error.]

-------------
Quarter-final (Thursday 22nd February)
-------------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [8] lt. AMÉLIE MAURESMO [2], 3-6 6-3 4-6

Daniela had to play her quarter-final the day after her second-round
marathon, and was first on court! :-||


First set
---------
HANTUCHO ___*__@*_ 3
MAURESMO *@* *@__* 6

Daniela wasted 0/30 and a break-point in the first game, and also
wasted 0/30 at 0-2*. But she recovered from *0-3 (0/40) to hold for
1-3*. The two breaks from *1-4 were both to love, then only one point
went against serve in the last two games.


Second set
----------
HANTUCHO * * *@* * 6
MAURESMO _* *___*_ 3

Daniela struggled much more than Mauresmo in her early service-games,
being pegged back from 40/15 to 40/40 in the first game, and having
to save two break-points before she held for 2-1*.

But it was Daniela who broke first - to 15 for *4-2, and she held for
5-2*. At *5-3, she served out the set to love!


Third set
---------
HANTUCHO @__*@__*__ 4
MAURESMO _@*__@* *@ 6

Daniela broke to 15 for *1-0, but was broken back immediately. She
converted the third of three break-points on Mauresmo's serve at 2-2
(0/40) for *3-2, but was again broken back immediately.

Daniela had a break-point on Mauresmo's serve at 3-3 (ad), but
Mauresmo held for 4-3*. Daniela recovered from 0/30 and saved three
nonconsecutive break-points before holding for 4-4*. Mauresmo held to
love for 5-4*, Daniela recovered from 0/30 to 30/30, but lost the
next two points and the match.


Articles
--------

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Mauresmo started out well with a first-set win, but her game dipped
in the second while Hantuchová raised her level. Mauresmo couldn't
convert on break-opportunities, while Hantuchová could, taking the
match to a third set.

In the final set, both Mauresmo and Hantuchová took turns breaking
each other, but in the end, Mauresmo prevailed, booking her spot in
the semi-finals with a 6-3 3-6 6-4 win in two hours, 21 minutes.
<<<

Barry Wood (Reuters):
>>>
Mauresmo also took nearly 2˝ hours to overcome Hantuchová despite
racing into a 5-1 lead in the opening set.

Hantuchová attacked more from the net to level matters in the second.

Although she twice broke Mauresmo's serve in the third, she
immediately surrendered her own. In the end the Slovak paid the
price, conceding her serve again in the final game.
<<<

http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/news/2007/news29.1.asp
>>>
Wimbledon champion Amélie Mauresmo struggled to defeat eighth-seeded
Slovak Daniela Hantuchová, taking two hours 21 minutes to win 6-3 3-6
6-4 and reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on
Thursday.

Mauresmo has had problems against Hantuchová in the past, and lost
their last meeting in 2004. But she took charge of the first set, and
swept to a convincing 5-1 lead.

But Hantuchová put on a more positive performance in the second set,
attacking well and teasing Mauresmo with some fine passes. A break
for 4-2 gave her the set, but she was twice unable to maintain breaks
of serve in the third.

Although Hantuchová broke for 1-0 and 3-2, Mauresmo broke back
immediately each time, and then earned another decisive break to
claim a welcome victory.
<<<

Paddy <http://www.teamwta.com/content/view/882/2/>:
>>>
Daniela Hantuchová lost to No.2 seeded Amélie Mauresmo in the quarter-
finals of Dubai Open in 3 sets 3-6 6-3 4-6. This is another marathon
match for Daniela that lasted 2 hours 21 minutes. In the first set
Amélie led 5-1; Daniela tried to come back, but the insurance-break
allowed Amélie to win the first set 6-3 in 41 minutes.

Daniela found her rhythm in the second set with laser-sharp returns
and excellent serve. She won the second set 6-3.

Daniela started the third set well by breaking the no.2 seed, but she
couldn't carry the momentum, and the players exchanged a series of
breaks. In the last game, Daniela couldn't win her service-game to
stay in the match, and Amélie won the final set 6-4.

Both players called for their coaches between the second and third
sets.
<<<

Richard Eaton for AFP:
>>>
Wimbledon champion Amélie Mauresmo celebrated the announcement that
women are going to receive equal prize-money as men at this year's
British Grand Slam with a courageous performance to reach the semi-
finals of the 1.5-million-dollar Dubai Open here on Thursday.

Second seed Mauresmo won 6-3 3-6 6-4 against Daniela Hantuchová, the
eighth-seeded Slovakian to whom she had lost twice in their four
previous meetings, and did so despite her tiredness and heavy
strappings on both thighs.

The French heroine had flown to the Gulf only on Monday after
answering a last moment call to rescue a depleted tournament, and
although she appeared to be feeling the pace of her schedule and of
the contest in the second set, she rallied cleverly to snatch the
result.

But in fact Hantuchová, who went 0-3 and love 40 down in no time,
improved, keeping more of her raking drives in court, at the same
time as Mauresmo began to struggle a little physically.

Although Hantuchová often did serve well on the bigger points, there
were still plenty of long and varied rallies, and Mauresmo's
"sleepiness" appeared to come after the blow of a line-decision in
the second set.

Leading 3-2, Mauresmo was adjudged to have delivered an ace, but
Hantuchová appealed to the computerised replay, and succeeded in
getting the decision over-turned.

On replaying the point, Mauresmo served a double fault to go
love/thirty down, and shortly afterwards dropped that service-game to
go 2-4 down.

Hantuchová clung to that advantage well to take the second set, and
looked the more likely winner when she advanced to 3-2 in a final set
in which service-breaks became more frequent.

But Mauresmo mixed up the pace much more cleverly, and also scored
well by changing the direction of her backhand drives suddenly to the
short route - down the line.

Although Hantuchová saved three break-points to reach 4-4, she could
not escape trouble a second time, and at 30/40 in the tenth game,
Mauresmo sent over a provocative, loopy drive which Hantuchová
battered over the baseline.
<<<

Mauresmo quotes
---------------

"I really felt I was in control of the match in the first set. But
then I told Loic [Courteau, her coach] at the end of the second set
how asleep I was. I wasn't doing anything in the second set. Then I
was able to - little bit by little bit in the third set - get my
rhythm going a little bit better.

"I kind of felt sleepy in the second set, perhaps because I was so
much in control in the first set, and it made things look so easy.

"It's not easy, as it was only my second match outside [after playing
in Antwerp last week], and I'm looking forward to playing better
tomorrow.

"The strappings are only a precaution. I felt really okay most of the
time. But she had a hard serve and it gave me a lot of trouble today,
and I thought I could have done a lot better in that area of the
game."

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

It seems that Hantuyama haven't split up after all!

(DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[3]:
1r + Jelena Kostanic Tošic/Tatiana Perebiynis, 6-4 6-1
qf + Janette Husárová/Kveta Peschke, 6-3 6-1
sf - (CARA BLACK/LIEZEL HUBER)[1], 2-6 1-6

And Black/Huber went on to win the doubles-title.

--
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/