Hantuchova lets her tennis do the talking
Wed Aug 27, 5:13 PM ET
By Ossian Shine
NEW YORK, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Talk of her waif-like figure finally dying off,
Daniela Hantuchova let her tennis do all the talking at the U.S. Open on
Wednesday, beating a moon-balling Julia Vakulenko 6-0 7-6 to reach the third
round.
The skinny Slovak ninth seed, subject of much speculation at Wimbledon about
her diet and slender frame, overcame the Ukrainian in an edgy match on
Armstrong stadium court.
"That was difficult for me," she smiled. "I mean she started to play some
strange tennis.
"I think the last time I played against someone (playing) like that was
maybe when I was 12.
"I am just so glad I could get through that match... definitely relieved."
It was not a victory without drama. At one point the sometimes emotionally
frail Hantuchova almost burst into tears when she missed a match point in
the 10th game of the second set.
But she quickly pulled herself together and despite some tenacious and
insistent moon-balling by Vakulenko, Hantuchova prevailed in the tiebreak.
She finally sealed victory after 94 minutes on her fourth match point when
the Ukrainian drove a backhand long.
"I just want to play my best tennis and am looking forward now," Hantuchova
said.
"I feel I have a good chance here this year. I am hitting the ball well and
hopefully I will do well here."
She will next meet Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn, who ousted 18th-seeded Swiss
Patty Schnyder 6-4 6-3.
"I will have to play my best because she is in good form," Hantuchova said.
"I was happy with the way I played in the first set today. I'll hopefully
maintain that form in the next round."
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moon-balling就是月亮球啊，打起來會很奇怪喔...？
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