[新聞] Hantuchova Back In Winner's Circle
PATTAYA CITY, Thailand - Daniela Hantuchova made a welcome return to the WTA
winner's circle on Sunday afternoon, claiming her fourth career title - and
first in almost four years - at the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand.
Hantuchova, the No.4 seed at the $220,000 tournament, didn't drop a set en
route to the title, but it was by no means easy. Having lost to her in all
three of their previous meetings, she edged Kimiko Date-Krumm in a tight
two-setter in the second round, 76(3) 63, then came the semifinal battle with
No.1 seed and two-time defending champion, Vera Zvonareva, which she also
won, 76(3) 64.
"I kept fighting like crazy. I knew it would be a crazy match, she has
confidence and experience," Hantuchova said. "She has been in so many finals
and is such a fighter, but I played one of my best matches in the last few
years."
"I wasn't happy with my game since the second round, and with such a good
player like Daniela, you need to lift the level of your game," Zvonareva,
ranked No.3 in the world, said. "I hope to come back. I love playing in
Pattaya. I won here twice, everyone welcomes me, it's a great thing to have.
So I hope I can."
In Sunday's final, Hantuchova was in crushing form against No.8 seed Sara
Errani, hitting three times as many winners (18 to 6) and breaking serve six
times en route to a 60 62 championship victory in an hour and 16 minutes.
"I was really hungry to get another title," Hantuchova said. "I thought I
played really focused and aggressive from the start. And I won the whole
tournament in straight sets, which is a good sign. After all I had to go
through with the injury at the start of the year, this feels great. I had a
good pre-season and now it's paying off. I never doubted myself."
Hantuchova's first three WTA titles came at Indian Wells in 2002 and 2007, as
well as at Linz later in 2007. She is now 4-7 in career finals.
"The match with Vera was a little final I would say, but I have to give
credit to Sara, she played well the whole tournament," Hantuchova added. "I
hope to come back. I didn't have time to see anything of Thailand, so
hopefully I come back not just for the tournament, but also holidays!"
Errani is now 2-3 in career finals on the WTA, those two titles coming in
back-to-back weeks in 2008 at Palermo and Portoroz, and the two runner-up
finishes coming at those exact same tournaments the next summer in 2009.
Other stars names making the trip to Pattaya City were Ana Ivanovic, the No.2
seed, who fell to No.5 seed Roberta Vinci in the quarterfinals, and Maria
Kirilenko, the No.3 seed, who lost a heartbreaker in the second round to
qualifier Galina Voskoboeva, leading 61 52 and holding triple match point at
61 54 but ultimately succumbing in three sets to the Kazakh, 16 75 64.
--
上の雪 さむかろな。 つめたい月がさしていて。
下の雪 重かろな。 何百人ものせていて。
中の雪 さみしかろな。 空も地面(じべた)もみえないで。
金子みすず
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