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Hantuchova refuses to bulk up
Thursday January 1, 07:46 PM
Glamour girl Daniela Hantuchova will continue to defy the trend towards power in women's tennis.
The pencil-thin Slovakian has been criticised for not trying to add more beef to her lean frame in the last year as she slipped out of the top ten in the world rankings.
Tennis great Martina Navratilova called for her to put on some pounds while other critics said she should add about five kilograms to her 56kg body.
The 1.81cm occasional model, in Perth for the upcoming Hopman Cup, said Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters had proven in 2003 that power was not all-important.
The pair helped break up the Williams sisters' domination of the game as the American siblings endured a testing year due to injury and personal reasons.
"Kim and Justine showed it is not just about being powerful, it is also important to be able to place the ball," she said.
"Justine is very strong but she is not that big and it is more about placement."
The 20-year-old said she would always play her own game and not copy other players.
She said she had enjoyed dabbling in modelling but said it would never come in the way of her tennis.
"I like doing it just for fun, but tennis has always been my major focus," she said.
The baseliner felt she had learnt plenty about herself during 2003 as her ranking fell from a high of No.5 in 2002 to her current position at No.19.
"I always knew I had to experience a tough year last year, it was always going to be a tough year but I am glad I have had the experience and hopefully it will make me a lot better player and a person.
"I feel I am ready to raise my game to the next level and get back to where I was and go even higher."
She will partner compatriot Karol Kucera in the $1 million mixed teams event at the Burswood Dome which starts Saturday.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt arrives in Perth on Friday with fiancee Kim Clijsters to begin his summer campaign ahead of the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne.
He will play with fellow South Australian Alicia Molik for the third time in the competition.
Former US Open champion Marat Safin is also expected to fly in on Friday with the mercurial Russian paired up with world No.7 Anastasia Myskina.
The United States team is different from last summer's successful outfit with Lindsay Davenport replacing Serena Williams next to James Blake.
World No.4 Amelie Mauresmo teams up with noted doubles player Fabrice Santoro for France.
Hungary's Attila Savolt and Petra Mandula will take on Canada's Frank Dancevic and Maureen Drake on Saturday for the final berth in the eight-nation competition.
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