[新聞] Daniela Hantuchova, Queen Of Pattaya Daniela Hantuchova
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Daniela Hantuchova battled past an inspired WTA Rising Star to capture the PTT
Thailand Open - her third title in four attempts at the picturesque WTA stop.
Published February 15, 2015 12:14
Daniela Hantuchova, Queen Of Pattaya Daniela Hantuchova
PATTAYA CITY, Thailand - A day after they spent a combined total of almost six
hours to win their semifinal matches, Daniela Hantuchova and Ajla Tomljanovic
had another battle on their hands in the final of the PTT Thailand Open - and
it was experience that just edged out youth this time.
Tomljanovic, who won an all-WTA Rising Star showdown against Monica Puig the
day before, came out stronger in the final, taking the first set in 32 minutes
and looking safely in control up 6-3, 2-1.
But Hantuchova has been no stranger to battling back - she saved two match
points to beat Marina Erakovic in the semis - and she found another second wind
in the final, winning eight of the next nine games to take the second set, 6-3,
and jump out to a 3-0 lead in the third and deciding set.
Tomljanovic got things back to 3-all, and then 4-all too, but Hantuchova made
one last push right at the end, holding then breaking one last time to win in
two hours and seven minutes, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
"Today was very tough because Ajla was playing some great tennis," Hantuchova
said. "I had to really fight for it - at the end I felt maybe I was a little
fresher and sharper, and that decided the match.
"But Ajla has a great future ahead of her. She's also a very nice girl. It's
nice to have somebody like her in the game. And like I said on the court, I'm
sure she'll have many more finals to come."
This is the third time Hantuchova has won the PTT Thailand Open, her first
two titles here coming in 2011 and 2012. She has seven WTA titles overall now,
including Indian Wells in 2002 and 2007.
"It means so much to me to win this tournament three times. I've never done
that in my career and never thought I'd be able to," the former World No.5 said.
"It's always a special feeling playing in Pattaya. I've felt great here since
the first match, and I'm very proud I kept it up all week."
It was a breakthrough week for Tomljanovic regardless of the final result - she
had never even been to a WTA semifinal before, let alone a WTA final. Things
are really looking up for the 21-year-old.
"There are too many positives from the week. I'm going to try not to dwell on
this too much," she said. "I'll just try to learn from it. There are things I
can learn from this match and the week.
"Overall I think this was a really big step forward for me in Pattaya."
The doubles title went to No.1 seeds the Chan sisters - Hao-Ching and Yung-Jan
- who beat Shuko Aoyama and Tamarine Tanasugarn, 2-6, 6-4, 10-3. It was the
Chans' third WTA doubles title together, having won the International title in
Shenzhen in 2013 and the Premier title in Eastbourne in 2014.
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