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

DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6,EF]:
1r + Catalina Castańo, 6-1 6-0
2r + Eleni Daniilidou, 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 6-3
qf + MARTINA HINGIS [3], 1-6 6-4 6-4
sf - SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [2], 4-6 2-6

A run which featured one of the best match-wins of Daniela's career -
coming back from 1-6 *1-4 (0/30) to beat the great Hingis - but she
doesn't half make life difficult for herself with all these energy-
sapping three-setters!

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

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=278875&page=13 (and p.14)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=278892&page=9 (off-court)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Once again, Daniela looking very hot both on and off the court.
But is she getting too thin again?


For those who enjoy Daniela's beauty, Slovakia has more of the same
in Magdaléna Rybáriková:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=200063&page=16

(Magda recently put her injury-nightmare behind her to reach the
final of ITF Pruhonice.)

---------------------------------
Pretournament quotes from Daniela
---------------------------------

{from after her second-round match at Dubai}

"My best tennis is yet to come - I haven't fulfilled my potential as
yet. I definitely want to tap this potential to be a better player.
I have to get it out, and I believe it will come.

"I think I am my biggest critic. Perhaps I was too hard on myself.
I was in the top ten, and I doubt if I was prepared for it at all.
Maybe success came a bit too early for me. I may have not made the
right decisions on and off the court, and that affected my growth."

-----------
First round (Monday 26th February)
-----------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6,EF] d. Catalina Castańo, 6-1 6-0

A bagelstick is a nice change from all those three-setters! :-)

Daniela has now won one match 6-1 6-0 in each of 2005, 2006 and 2007,
but she's never won - or lost - 6-0 6-0.

Castańo is one of the worst players on the WTA Tour. At Wimbledon
2004, she lost 6-0 6-1 to 47-year-old Martina Navrátilová. And she's
the last player to lose 6-0 6-0 to Maria Sharapova (ITF Peachtree
2002).

Reuters:
>>>
World number 19 Hantuchová breezed past Columbia's Catalina Castańo
6-1 6-0 in 53 minutes.

Hantuchová seemed to be in a hurry as she demolished Castańo with a
flurry of shots.
<<<

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Hantuchová, fresh off her first quarter-final showing of the year in
Dubai, took just 52 minutes to move through her Doha opener against
Catalina Castańo, 6-1 6-0.

The Slovak, the No.6 seed this week, excelled particularly on serve,
prevailing on 86% of her first-service points, and never having her
delivery broken. By the end of the match, she won over twice as many
points as her tenacious Colombian opponent (55-23).
<<<

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

In the first game, Daniela saved a break-point and held after 3
deuces.
In the second game, Castańo recovered from 15/30 to win her lone game
of the match.

The rest of the first set was plain sailing for Daniela, despite a
double fault on the first point at *5-1. She had two set-points at
40/15, and converted the second.


Second set
----------
HANTUCH @*@*@* 6
CASTAŃO ______ 0

In the first game, Daniela squandered three break-points at 0/40,
saved a game-point, and broke after two deuces.

She hit two aces as she held for 2-0*, and swept through the second
set with little resistance.

She hit an ace on the first point at *5-0, dropping just one point
(at 30/0) as she served /out/ the match and /up/ the bagelstick.

------------
Second round (Wednesday 28th February)
------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6,EF] d. Eleni Daniilidou, 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 6-3

Daniilidou is a very dangerous floater, who had a 2-1 head-to-head
over Daniela going into this match, so I'm just happy that Daniela
won at all.

But once again, she faces a quarter-final the day after a three-set
marathon! :-||

While Hingis could be much fresher after a 6-2 6-2 drubbing of Maria
Kirilenko. :sad: (At least Hingis made it up to Little Maria by
winning the doubles-title with her.)


First set
---------
HANTUCHOVÁ * * * * * *_ 6(4)
DANIILIDOU _* * * * * * 7(7)

Wow, it's like one of those men's sets on grass in the 1990s!

Tiebreak: 0/1*, 1/1*... 3/3*, *4/3 -> 4/7.


Second set
----------
The scoreboard went AWOL. Since Daniela was serving second, she must
have broken at 5-3* to win the set 6-3 by two breaks.


Third set
---------
Daniela, serving first, led 4-1* and *5-3, and thus won the final set
6-3 by one break.

There are two very different types of 6-3 set in tennis. Winning 6-3
with two breaks is akin to 6-2, but 6-3 with one break is akin to 6-4.

-------------
Quarter-final (Thursday 1st March)
-------------

+ DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6,EF] d. MARTINA HINGIS [3], 1-6 6-4 6-4

Daniela got WTA Tour Win of the Week for this, and it brought back
sweet memories of the Indian Wells 2002 final, when I believed that
the sky was the limit for Daniela, that she could be #3 behind the
Williams sisters and possibly win a Grand Slam singles-title! :-)
How times change.

What makes this result even more impressive is that Hingis was
6-1 4-1* (30/0) up, then Daniela won seven games in a row! It's right
up there with the best match-wins of Daniela's career, and comparable
with the way Maria Sharapova changed the rotation of the Earth in the
Wimbledon 2004 semi-finals (when Maria came back from 2-6 *1-3 to
beat Lindsay Davenport).


Articles
--------

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Hantuchová was being completely outplayed by Martina Hingis, trailing
6-1 4-1, when she recaptured the range on her powerful, penetrating
groundstrokes, rallying back for a 1-6 6-4 6-4 win in just under two
hours.

It was her first Top 10 win of the season, having played close ones
against Kim Clijsters and Amélie Mauresmo earlier in the year but
still falling; it was also her second win in four meetings with
Hingis.
<<<

BBC Sport:
>>>
Daniela Hantuchová fought back from a set and a break down to beat
third seed Martina Hingis 1-6 6-4 6-4.

Hantuchová seemed headed for a quick exit as she surrendered the
first set and quickly fell 4-1 down in the next.

But she won seven straight games to claim the set and take the
advantage in the decider as she went on to victory.
<<<

Associated Press (AP):
>>>
Hantuchová took five games in a row in the second set to force a
third set. She made it a seven-game winning-streak by immediately
breaking Hingis in the third set, and then holding her own serve to
take a 2-0 lead.

Hingis broke back in the eighth game to tie the set at 4-4, but then
dropped her serve. Hantuchová held her serve to finish the match.
<<<

Reuters:
>>>
Third seed Hingis appeared to be coasting to victory as she led by a
set and 4-1.

But Hantuchová, seeded six, then began to find her range from the
baseline, and put the Swiss under pressure for the first time.

She broke Hingis in the seventh and ninth games, wrapping up the set
with a crosscourt forehand.

Hantuchová raced into a 4-2 lead in the decider, only for Hingis to
level at 4-4.

Having restored parity, the former world number one then dropped her
serve again.
<<<

Agence France Presse (AFP):
>>>
Daniela Hantuchová staged a spectacular comeback to shock third
seeded Martina Hingis 1-6 6-4 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the WTA
Qatar Open on Thursday.

Hantuchová, the sixth seed, seemed headed for a quick exit after
literally chasing shadows in the first set and falling to a 1-4
deficit in the second.

However the leggy Slovakian struck a brilliant purple patch that saw
her win five games in the set to draw level and stay in the match.

Hantuchová, who has won only one WTA title against Hingis's 43,
picked up where she had left off in the third set, breaking the Swiss
ace in the first game, and going ahead 2-0 to complete a sensational
seven-game winning-sequence.

Hingis, the inaugural Qatar Open champion in 2001, was hardly the
player she was earlier in the match, and although she won the third
game to narrow the gap to 2-1, she was again broken in the fifth as
Hantuchová took a 3-2 lead.

The Slovakian held serve to extend the advantage to 4-2, but Hingis
held her serve and secured a rare break to level at 4-4 to raise
visions of a recovery.

However, that didn't materialise as Hantuchová broke Hingis again
after the Swiss comeback-queen made crucial errors, sending an easy
crosscourt shot wide and hitting a straightforward ball long.

Leading 5-4, Hantuchová needed to hold her serve to win the match,
and she did that in emphatic fashion, winning the 10th game at love.
<<<

Jess Plopinio for Lawntennisnews.com:
>>>
Martina Hingis crashed out at the Qatar Total Open when she lost to
Slovak Daniela Hantuchová, 6-1,4-6,4-6. This is the second defeat of
Hingis by Hantuchová in four meetings.

Hingis was doing great in the first set, which she won easily with
6-1. Things were in Hingis' favour when she cruised to a 4-1 lead in
the second set.

At that moment Hantuchová found her rhythm and turned the tables on
Hingis. As if stunned, Hingis couldn't handle Hantuchová's charge, as
she failed to win a game after the fifth game. Hantuchová went on to
win the second set, 4-6. In the third set, Hantuchová continued to
dominate Hingis, cruising to a 3-1 lead.

But Hingis picked up her game, and fought back. Too late as
Hantuchová was on a roll, leaving Hingis powerless to stop her from
winning the third deciding set, 6-4.
<<<

First set
---------
HANTUC ____*__ 1
HINGIS @*@* *@ 6

In the first game, Daniela was serving at 40/0 up, but squandered
four game-points in all, and was broken after two deuces.
Hingis serving 1-0: recovered from 15/30 to hold.
Daniela serving 0-2: broken to love.
Hingis serving 3-0: recovered from 15/30 to hold after two deuces.
Daniela serving 0-4: she opened her account with a hold to 30.
Hingis serving 4-1: the scoreboard froze at 40/0.


Second set
----------
HANTUC 1*@*@* 6
HINGIS 4_____ 4

Daniela recovered from *1-4 (0/30) and won five games in a row to win
the set!


Third set
---------
HANTUC @* * *__@* 6
HINGIS __* * *@__ 4

Daniela serving 1-0: held to love.

Hingis serving 1-3: Daniela wasted 3 break-points.

Hingis serving 2-4: held to love.
Daniela serving 4-3: broken easily.
Hingis serving 4-4: Daniela broke with a dropshot!
Daniela serving 5-4: she served it out to love!


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

"I never felt I was out of it. Even though she was 4-1 up in the
second set, I slowly started to believe I was doing the right thing.

"I thought it was just a matter of time to break her down. But I
really liked the way I turned the match around and found a way to get
through.

"In my mind I always knew I had a chance, even when I was 1-4 down
after losing the first set 1-6. With Martina missing lots of balls,
I knew it was a matter of time.

"I am proud of the way I turned the match around. I just stayed
positive and played my game, and beat a top-ten player. I am happy
about it.

"I am very pleased to have turned the match around. I was a set and
4-1 down, but in my mind I was never out of it. Martina was playing
well, but I managed to stay in it. This win means a lot to me; to
beat a top-ten player is just a wonderful feeling.

"My coach told me after the first set to stay patient, not to force
too much, and keep fighting. It was good to talk to him on the court,
because the coaches always have a different perspective, and see
things you can't see while you are playing."

----------
Semi-final (Friday 2nd March)
----------

- DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [6,EF] lt. SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA [2], 4-6 2-6

And this is where it's so frustrating, because Daniela had beaten
Kuznetsova by the same score in the semi-finals of Zürich last year!
But that was after Daniela had a day off following a walkover from
Amélie Mauresmo, whereas here she had played six sets in the two days
before this match.

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Kuznetsova, seeded No.2, had a much more comprehensive win [than
Justine Henin] in the second semi-final, beating No.6 seed Daniela
Hantuchová, 6-4 6-2. The Russian gained the lone break of the first
set in the seventh game, then rebounded from a 2-0 hole in the second
set, reeling off six straight games for the one-hour, 21-minute win.
<<<

Wintermute <http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=10198884>:
>>>
Daniela was toe-to-toe with Sveta at the start and I was impressed
with the accuracy and depth on her groundstrokes. She was sensibly
hammering Sveta's backhand. The occasional short ball to the forehand
was just getting creamed.

Serving at 3-3 Daniela's level dropped a fraction and Svetlana had a
couple of bits of luck as well to give her the break.

Daniela went down 0-40 in the opening game of the 2nd set and I
thought it might be over but she was able to raise her level again
and through some good serving and shotmaking was able to hold and
then break. She didn't win another game in the match.

I don't know what happened but her level just plummeted. The
intensity was gone. She started to make loads of unforced errors -
her shots that had been nice and deep were now just a fraction too
long. She looked defeated a couple of games from the end which is so
disappointing given how well she was playing earlier.

Daniela needs to be able to sustain her high level of play for
longer. All players go through bad patches in a match but you need to
ride them out and she couldn't do that today. It was just too much of
a drop in form against Svetlana who was so solid throughout.
<<<

First set
---------
HANTUCHOVÁ 3__*_ 4
KUZNETSOVA 3@* * 6


Second set
----------
HANTUCHOVÁ *@______ 2
KUZNETSOVA __@*@*@* 6

Daniela serving 0-0: recovered from 0/40, saving four break-points
altogether, and holding after two deuces.
Kuznetsova serving 0-1: Daniela was always either level or one point
ahead, and broke after two deuces.
Daniela serving 2-0: Daniela had 40/30 for 3-0*, but was broken after
one deuce.
Kuznetsova serving 1-2: held to love.
Daniela serving 2-2: broken to love.
Kuznetsova serving 3-2: held to love.
Daniela serving 2-4: 0/15 (lost 16 points in a row!), 15/15, 15/30,
30/30, 40/30 (for 4-3*), 40/40, ad K (BP), broken.
Kuznetsova serving 5-2: 0/30 -> 30/30, 40/30 (MP #1), 40/40,
ad D (BP), Deuce #2, ad K (MP #2), GSM Kuznetsova.


Kuznetsova quotes
-----------------

{before the match}
"I play Hantuchová now. She's improving, and had a great win today.
She's a tough opponent, but I'll give my best."

{after the match}
"I'm very happy to be in the final - my first of the year. I have
really enjoyed myself here, and am pleased with the way I'm playing.
I had some good preparation before the Australian Open."

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

(DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[1], the defending champions,
pulled out because of Sugiyama's right-toe injury. :-(

--
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/