Hantuchova ousts Mauresmo at Eastbourne
Daniela Hantuchova has put the dark days behind her to upset top seed Amelie
Mauresmo 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the Eastbourne International in England and reach her
first final since October 2002.
Once ranked as high as number five but now wallowing at 54, the Slovak suffered
a torrid 2003 as her skeletal appearance prompted concerns about her diet and
health.
But on Friday, as seagulls wheeled overhead, the 21-year-old's smile was broad
and bright after her triumph against the French world number four.
"I'm back where I want to be," she smiled.
"It has been a while since I've played like I have this week but it is because
I am relaxed again and enjoying my game."
She will face Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday's final. The second-seeded
18-year-old put out fellow Russian teenager Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 in the
other semi-final on the south coast.
Hantuchova has put on more than a stone in weight since last year and she put
the extra power to good use, leaning into her serves and keeping Mauresmo on
the back foot in the early stages.
She chased down a Mauresmo drop shot in the ninth game to show she has lost
none of her pace and then slammed her second ace of the match.
Adept at the net
An accomplished doubles player, Hantuchova is adept at the net and attacked
whenever possible but Mauresmo too is aggressive on grass and always looked to
take the initiative away from the Slovak.
As nerves began to take hold, Mauresmo piled on the pressure and a sliced
return gave the Frenchwoman a break point which she converted with a miss-hit
backhand drop shot.
The top seed held to take the opening set with some superb grasscourt tennis in
42 minutes.
Nothing could separate the pair early in the second set and this time the
Slovak kept her nerve in the latter stages.
She stayed ahead serving comfortably as the sun broke through the clouds and
earned a set point at 5-4 with a whipped backhand pass.
Mauresmo saved that one but Hantuchova earned a second with a bunted backhand
down the same side. This time Hantuchova snatched it when Mauresmo netted a
drop volley.
Hantuchova punched her fist in the air, and skipped back to her seat, her
confidence clearly boosted.
The pair both struggled to hold serve in the decider. Hantuchova finally held
from the south end of the court - the first to do so in the third set - to move
5-4 ahead and once again heap the pressure on Mauresmo.
The Frenchwoman crumbled under some withering returns, Hantuchova clinching
victory with a lunged forehand pass down the line.
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這篇有提到很多韓娃和momo比賽的情形^^
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