Hantuchova puts end to weight issue
By PAUL LEVINE -- SportsTicker
CARSON, Calif. -- Tired of the endless questions regarding her skeletal
appearance, Daniela Hantuchova decided to beef up.
Nicknamed "The Walking Stick" and "The Slovakian Skeleton," the willowy 6-foot,
123-pound beauty hired professional hockey fitness trainer Marian Gejdos from
her homeland in December. The working relationship is paying off.
"I knew there was something I needed to change because I knew it was not
possible to keep going like that," Hantuchova said Tuesday following a 6-2, 6-4
opening-round victory over South African Cara Black at the $585,000 JPMorgan
Chase Open. "I needed to gain more power and strength and I knew I needed to do
some changes.
"He always gives me exactly what I need to do in between tournaments and during
the tournaments. "Now it was more aerobic stuff, because I knew I needed to be
OK in these difficult conditions when it's hot like this. We also did some
power training."
Since starting the program, 21-year-old Hantuchova has put on 11 pounds and is
enjoying the extra muscle.
"Last year, I was trying to hit it hard but it wasn't going anywhere. Now I
feel it's good," said Hantuchova, currently ranked 35th on the WTA computer.
"I feel so much stronger. I feel like I've got a lot of strength and a lot of
power on my shots. I think when I hit it well, it really does some damage to my
opponent, and I feel much faster on the court as well. So I'm really pleased
the way things have been going."
Hantuchova had a breakout year in 2003 when she captured her first and only
major title at Indian Wells, California and reached the semifinals or better
at six events. She was named the tour's Most Improved Player.
Hantuchova vaulted to a career-best No. 5 ranking on January 27 after her
third consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open.
However, she slumped to No. 19 by year's end as rumors began to surface she had
an eating disorder.
"I didn't have an eating problem," she maintained. "I was trying to eat really
healthy and sometimes I was getting it a little wrong."
Hantuchova is pleased not to have to address the queries about her weight - or
lack of it - even though that was the main topic of conversation Tuesday.
"It looks like I'm still answering those kind of questions," she laughed.
"I'm so glad it's all over now that I'm really feeling fit and strong. I'm
really relaxed inside myself, really enjoying everything and eating as much
as I want. I'm working really hard and doing the right things now, for sure.
I feel I can really do some damage now. Everything is going the right way."
Hantuchova was asked how much damage she can do at the Home Depot Center, a
hardcourt tuneup event leading into next month's U.S. Open.
"I don't know. It's hard to say," she confessed. "I'm really enjoying myself
and having fun out there. It's a great preparation for my upcoming highlights,
which is the Olympics and obviously the U.S. Open. I just try to get as many
matches as I can, especially to make sure to (eat) the right things, and we'll
see how far I get."
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