Daniela Hantuchova Biography
Daniela Hantuchova was born in Poprad, Slovakia on April 23rd 1983 to parents Igor, a university professor, and Marianna, a toxicologist.
Despite the academic success of her parents, Daniela's career was always going to be tennis. Whilst her entire family were keen players, Daniela was probably inspired most by her grandmother Helena, a former Czechoslovakia national player, who introduced Daniela to the sport at the tender age of three.
Aware of her granddaughter's potential, Helena signed her up at Slavia STU, a prestigious tennis club in Bratislava, where the young Daniela was instructed by Joseph Bulko.
Aged thirteen, Daniela started to spend the winter months at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida, a tennis club with an enviable record for developing talents of the future. Two years later Daniela joined the ITF circuit and went on to win two ITF Challenger titles in 1999, aged just sixteen. By now, Daniela had turned professional and tennis observers were starting to take notice
Daniela announced her arrival on the pro tennis circuit in 2000 when she reached the quarter-finals first in Strasbourg and then in Luxembourg, having taken her first major scalp by beating top-10 player Nathalie Tauziat.
Daniela played in her first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, in 2001 where she qualified for the first round, only to be beaten by Anna Kournikova.
The U.S. Open was a smilar story, again defeated in the first round after qualifying. But progress came in the remaining Grand Slams of 2001, with Daniela reaching the second round at both the French Open and at Wimbledon. It was also at the All England Tennis Club that Daniela won her first grand slam mixed doubles title with partner Leos Friedl.
A Wimbledon champion at just eighteen, the young Daniela went on to reach the semi-finals at Birmingham and Oklahoma and began 2002 with a greatly improved world ranking of 38, a position she maintained with another mixed doubles Grand Slam victory, this time at the Australian Open with new partner Kevin Ullyett.
In March 2002, Daniela beat Martina Hingis at the Indian Wells Final to win her first professional singles title, and netting a cool $2m in prize money.
Two more doubles titles followed, this time with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, at Amelia Island and then New Haven. Daniela was now being recognised as an emerging force in women's tennis and she would confirm this with two Grand Slam quarter-final appearances at The U.S. Open and at Wimbledon.
Her world ranking had reached the dizzy heights of #8 by the end of 2002 and Daniela had also helped Slovakia to win the Federations Cup. Things were certainly looking good for the young Slovakian. She won the WTA Tour's Most Improved Player of the Year award and was nominated for World Newcomer of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
In early 2003, Daniela continued to make further progress, improving her ranking to #5 in the world. But in the second half of the year, it became clear Daniela had hit a wall and simply could not buy a title. Rumours of an eating disorder abounded when it became clear that Daniela was shedding pounds. Could this explain the drop in form?
A change of coach did little to change things and she ended the year ranked #19. Daniela was back on the winning trail in 2004, but she has yet to make it back into the top ten and currently stands at #31 in the world.
Daniela Hantuchova was born in Poprad, Slovakia on April 23rd 1983 to parents Igor, a university professor, and Marianna, a toxicologist.
Despite the academic success of her parents, Daniela's career was always going to be tennis. Whilst her entire family were keen players, Daniela was probably inspired most by her grandmother Helena, a former Czechoslovakia national player, who introduced Daniela to the sport at the tender age of three.
Aware of her granddaughter's potential, Helena signed her up at Slavia STU, a prestigious tennis club in Bratislava, where the young Daniela was instructed by Joseph Bulko.
Aged thirteen, Daniela started to spend the winter months at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida, a tennis club with an enviable record for developing talents of the future. Two years later Daniela joined the ITF circuit and went on to win two ITF Challenger titles in 1999, aged just sixteen. By now, Daniela had turned professional and tennis observers were starting to take notice
Daniela announced her arrival on the pro tennis circuit in 2000 when she reached the quarter-finals first in Strasbourg and then in Luxembourg, having taken her first major scalp by beating top-10 player Nathalie Tauziat.
Daniela played in her first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, in 2001 where she qualified for the first round, only to be beaten by Anna Kournikova.
The U.S. Open was a smilar story, again defeated in the first round after qualifying. But progress came in the remaining Grand Slams of 2001, with Daniela reaching the second round at both the French Open and at Wimbledon. It was also at the All England Tennis Club that Daniela won her first grand slam mixed doubles title with partner Leos Friedl.
A Wimbledon champion at just eighteen, the young Daniela went on to reach the semi-finals at Birmingham and Oklahoma and began 2002 with a greatly improved world ranking of 38, a position she maintained with another mixed doubles Grand Slam victory, this time at the Australian Open with new partner Kevin Ullyett.
In March 2002, Daniela beat Martina Hingis at the Indian Wells Final to win her first professional singles title, and netting a cool $2m in prize money.
Two more doubles titles followed, this time with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, at Amelia Island and then New Haven. Daniela was now being recognised as an emerging force in women's tennis and she would confirm this with two Grand Slam quarter-final appearances at The U.S. Open and at Wimbledon.
Her world ranking had reached the dizzy heights of #8 by the end of 2002 and Daniela had also helped Slovakia to win the Federations Cup. Things were certainly looking good for the young Slovakian. She won the WTA Tour's Most Improved Player of the Year award and was nominated for World Newcomer of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
In early 2003, Daniela continued to make further progress, improving her ranking to #5 in the world. But in the second half of the year, it became clear Daniela had hit a wall and simply could not buy a title. Rumours of an eating disorder abounded when it became clear that Daniela was shedding pounds. Could this explain the drop in form?
A change of coach did little to change things and she ended the year ranked #19. Daniela was back on the winning trail in 2004, but she has yet to make it back into the top ten and currently stands at #31 in the world.
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova
Daniela Hantuchova v Kaia Kanepi Highlights Women's Singles Final: Brisbane International 2012
Daniela Hantuchova semifinals press conference: Brisbane International 2012
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