Archive for:

Amidst controversy and spectacular play, Serena Williams of the United States ends 2009 ranked No. 1 in the world on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Once before in her 14 year career she achieved the No. 1 year-end ranking, seven years ago in 2002.

Just three years ago, in 2006 she had dipped to No. 95 at year’s end following an injury-plagued season. She lost in the 3rd round at the Australian Open to Daniela Hantuchova. Williams then withdrew from all events until summer with a left knee injury, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon. She spent 18 weeks outside of the top 100 during that time. Then after starting up again, she lost at the U.S. Open in round four, ending the year at #95. In 2007 she started her climb back up the rankings, moving up to No. 7 at the end of the year, and finishing 2008, No. 3.[SonyEricssonWTATour.com]

Lovely cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, celebrated her 26th birthday yesterday. She was born April 23, 1983 in Poprad, Slovakia. She currently resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Hantuchova was born to father, Igor, a computer scientist and mother, Marianna, a toxicologist. She turned pro in 1999 at the age of 16. She is currently ranked 40 in the world. Her career high singes ranking was No. 5 in January 27, 2003. Her best showing in the Grand Slams was the Semifinals of the Australian Open in 2008.

Sexy, cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, is featured in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

Hantuchova was photographed by Walter Iooss, Jr. in Cap Cana, Juanillo, Dominican Republic. Her swimsuit is by V del Sol.

For the full gallery, go to Sports Illustrated.

The photo says it all – UPSET! The first round of the new season produced an early upset as No. 21 ranked Slovakian cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, was upset 7-6(7-1), 4-6, 0-6 by No. 41 ranked Sara Errani of Italy. They are playing in the 2009 WTA Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia.

It was tough for Hantuchova from the start, as the underdog, Errani, pushed her to a tie-break in the first set. Hantuchova was able to win the tie-break, but that was the end of the story. Errani took the final two sets, blanking Hantuchova in the final set.

Slovakian tennis cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, lost her quarterfinal match in the WTA Fortis Championships being played in Luxembourg Oct 20-26. Hantuchova’s opponent was 39th ranked Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea of Romania. Cirstea won the match 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

In the first round, No. 15 ranked Daniela Hantuchova defeated No. 61 ranked Pauline Parmentier of France 6-2, 7-5. She had an easy win over No. 56 ranked Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-0, 6-2. Then Cirstea ended Hantuchova’s hopes for this tournament.

Hantuchova has made to the quarterfinals eight times this year in twenty tournaments. She won only two of those quarterfinal matches. In both cases, she lost the semifinal match. She has no tournaments wins this year.

Daniela Hantuchova, tennis cutie pie from Slovakia, lost bad in the 2nd round of the WTA Tour Ladies Kremlin Cup in Moscow, Russia which was played Oct 6-12, 2008.

Ranked 14th in the world, Hantuchova easily won her first round match against 23rd ranked Francesca Schiavone of Italy, 6-3, 6-2. But she was no match for 8th ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia. Hantuchova lost that match 1-6, 0-6.

Zvonareva was playing well in this tournament. She made it to the finals where she ran up against # 1 ranked Jelena Jankovic, of Serbia, losing 2-6, 4-6.

Daniela Hantuchova shows that sweat counts for something. At least it makes the photo a little more interesting. However, whatever sweating she did in this practice session wasn’t enough to beat Jelena Jankovic in the 2008 WTA Tour China Open held Sept. 22-28 in Beijing, China. Hantuchova lost the Quarterfinal match 5-7, 1-6.

Hantuchova was seeded 7th in the match. She won her first two rounds against 47th ranked Gisela Dulko of Argentina (6-3, 6-1) and 38th ranked Tamarine Tanasugarn of USA, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5. But running up against # 2 ranked Jankovic proved too much.

Daniela Hantuchova, tennis cutie pie from Slovakia, has been beaten out of the 2008 WTA Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic currently being held in Bali, Indonesia.

Daniela Hantuchova, ranked 11th in the world, won her Quarterfinal match against 59th ranked Yung-Jan Chan of China in a close 3-setter, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2. She then lost in the Semifinals in another 3-setter, 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, to 85th ranked 17-year-old Tamira Paszek of Austria.

Tennis cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, of Slovakia, is seeded # 1 in the 2008 WTA Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic being played Sept. 8-14, in Bali, Indonesia. .

Daniela Hantuchova had a BYE into the 2nd round where she defeated 81st ranked Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-1, 7-5.

Hantuchova’s opponent in the Quarterfinals is 59th ranked Yung-Jan Chan of Chinese Taipei.

Go Daniela!

Slovakian tennis cutie pie, Daniela Hantuchova, made a 1st round exit at the 2008 U.S. Open tennis tournament. It was not even a close match, as Daniela went down 4-6, 2-6.

Daniela Hantuchova was seeded 11th in the tournament. She did not play up to her potential, going down in defeat in straight sets to 141st ranked Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany. Daniela is ranked 12th in the world, and never should have lost to the 141st ranked player. But that’s how tennis goes, and that’s what gives us hope. Maybe we can beat a higher ranked opponent. It makes the game worth playing, and worth watching!