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The first thing that strikes you about Daniela Hantuchova are her legs. Once you go past those long legs, you notice the supermodel looks that have made the Slovak one of the most popular names in women’s tennis over the past decade.
And once the focus shifts from her looks to her tennis, you see the beauty in her game – her fluid compact ground strokes which look like they have come out of a tennis instruction manual; the flowing service motion; and her smooth movement around the tennis court.
Hantuchova burst onto prominence in 2002 when she surprised many by winning the Indian Wells title – considered one of the biggest events on the tennis circuit outside of the Grand Slams – scoring wins over Justine Henin in the fourth round (6–3 6–3) and Martina Hingis in the final (6–3 6–4).
By the summer of 2003, Hantuchova had broken into the top 5 of the world rankings on the back of consistent results including quarter-final appearances at Wimbledon, the US and Australian Opens. But the wheels soon fell off as the pressure of defending her ranking points combined with concerns and media interest in her thin physique, leading to rumours of anorexia, took its toll – and she finished 2003 as no. 19 in the world and 2004 as no. 31 in the world.
After finishing 2005 and 2006 inside the top 20, Hantuchova won her second Indian Wells title in 2007 and finished the year at no. 9. The Slovak then had her biggest Grand Slam result in 2008 by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open losing to eventual champion Ana Ivanovic in three sets in spite of winning the first eight games of the match.
Since then, the Slovak has been sliding; finishing 2008, 2009 and 2010 at no. 21, 25, and 30 respectively in the rankings and is currently ranked 25th in the world – her best results in 2011 include winning the WTA event in Pattaya in February and beating world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the French Open in May.
Hantuchova is no slouch in the doubles format either – winning 9 doubles titles, twice finishing runners-up in women’s doubles Grand Slams and completing a career mixed doubles Grand Slam.
Hantuchova turns 29 next April and while some expect her to call it quits by the time she turns 30, many of her fans are hoping she will be a late bloomer like Li Na or Francesca Schiavone and that her long legs will one day hoist a Grand Slam trophy.
