Daniela Hantuchova life and biography

Daniela Hantuchová is a Slovak professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first Tier I tournament and ended the year in the top ten.

Daniela Hantuchova, a tall, slender Slovakian with impeccably smooth strokes, has had her ups and downs on the women’s tour. Her successes include wins at Indian Wells, in 2000 and 2007, a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, and appearances in the women’s doubles finals at Roland Garros and the Australian Open. After finishing the 2002 season in the Top 10, she struggled for the next couple of years, losing weight, having emotional breakdowns during matches, and falling outside the Top 30. It was speculated that her problems stemmed from her parents’ divorce in 2003. Hantuchova appeared in the 2009 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with fellow WTA tour players Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin.

Singles Titles:
2007: Indian Wells, Linz
2002: Indian Wells

Doubles Titles:
2006: Doha, Rome
2005: Birmingham, Filderstadt
2002: Amelia Island, New Haven
2001: Luxembourg (w/Bovina)
2000: Bratislava

PERSONAL:

Currently coached by Angel Jimenez; travels with various coaches from Barcelona's Casal/Sánchez Academy; fitness trainer is Marco Panici
All-court game; favorite surface is grass; favorite tournament is Wimbledon
Formerly coached by Nigel Sears; trained at Bollettieri Academy between ages 16 and 18
Father, Igor, is a computer scientist; mother, Marianna, is a toxicologist; older brother, Igor, is an architect working in Bratislava
Qualified for top university in Slovakia but deferred it to pursue tennis
Speaks Slovak, English, German; learning Spanish
Studied classical piano between ages 6 and 14
Interests include skiing, ice skating, roller blading, swimming, jet skiing, cooking
Favorite foods are sushi, seafood; favorite dessert is crêpes with nutella; favorite drink is hot chocolate
Favorite song is 'One' by U2 & Mary J. Blige; favorite actors are Brad Pitt and George Clooney
Favorite designers are Armani, Cavalli, Dior and Missoni
Favorite city is Rome and likes to visit Cape Town, South Africa
Admires athletes Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Michael Jordan and Michael Schumacher.

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