Home   |  Issues  |  The Daily Star Home | Thursday, February 2, 2006

 


SportsStar Exhibit

By Quazi Zulquarnain Islam

Profile: Daniela Hantuchová
Nationality: Slovakia
Residence: Bratislava, Slovakia
Birthdate: April 23, 1983
Birthplace: Poprad, Slovakia
Height: 5'11 1/4
Weight: 123 lbs (56 kg)
Plays: Right-Handed (Two-Handed Backhand)
Status: Pro (since May 1999)
Wears Clothing By: Nike
Shoes Manufactured By: Nike Air Max Luxurious

Biography
Before we begin the biography of Daniela it is important to note that her WTA Tour mentor in the Partners for Success program was Martina Navratilova, who was also her doubles partner for a brief period in early 2005.

Therefore it came as little surprise when Daniela Hantuchová established herself as a fine young player after all she had learnt the ropes from the legend herself.

Daniela Hantuchová has a generic all-court style of play. She comes from a highly educated family as her father, Igor is a computer scientist and mother, Marianna, is a toxicologist. Her entire family plays tennis which is where she developed the love for the sports.

Hantuchová has won one WTA singles tournament, in 2002 at Indian Wells. This is a surprise because many pundits consider her up there with the best talents in the world. Consistency has been her bane and her best Grand Slam singles achievements were playing in the quarter finals in 2002 at Wimbledon and at the US Open, and in 2003 at the Australian Open. Her biggest success so far came in mixed doubles. In this competition she won the 2001 Wimbledon with, the 2002 Australian Open, the 2005 Roland Garros with Fabrice Santoro, and 2005 US Open with Mahesh Bhupathi. At the 2005 US Open she completed a career mixed doubles Grand Slam with Mahesh Bhupathi.

In Perth, Australia in 2005, Hantuchová won the Hopman Cup with Dominik Hrbatý.

She had won over $3,400,000 in prize money by the end of 2005.

She speaks Slovak, English and German and other sports interests include skiing, basketball and skating. She also enjoys music and playing piano as hobbies.

Hantuchová stands 5'11" tall, and her extra-long legs have earned her the frequent attention of photographers.

(As usual mails are welcome at zulquarnain.islam@gmail.com)


 
 

home | Issues | The Daily Star Home

© 2006 The Daily Star