Daniela Hantuchova retires after injuring herself at the Fed Cup – Tennis News
Former world number five, Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia pulls out from the professional tennis after suffering a foot injury. She made a stunning comeback against Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino to lead her country into the world
group phase at the Fed Cup but was stressed out.
After a spectacular Fed Cup action at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, Hantuchova was eyeing for her next tournament in Stuttgart before finding out a strain in left foot. As a result, the Slovak not only withdrew from
the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix but will also skip several WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournaments.
Hantuchova was quoted in a social networking site, “I'm very sorry I had to pull out from one of my favourite tournaments. I was looking forward to playing here in Stuttgart very much. The Fed Cup tie over the weekend was too much
for an injury of this type, but it was worth it to bring our country back to the World Group.”
On the red clay courts in Spain, Hantuchova lost her opening singles rubber against Silvia Soler-Espinosa. She endured a 6-7(5), 4-6 loss against the Spaniard and levelled her nation by 1-1 against Spain.
After the Slovakian number one, Dominika Cibulkova, won her match against Soler-Espinosa in the third rubber, it was up to Hantuchova to lead her country into the next group.
Ranked 18th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Hantuchova made a drastic start and barely did anything. Her opponent on the other side went into a six-game killing spree, ultimately plucking the bagel in 31 minutes.
The enthusiastic Slovak found her rhythm in the second set and stroke out the opening four games in a row with two breaks of serve. Despite losing her concentration and levelling the scores, Hantuchova sought two set points. She
squandered her chance but only to see her clinching the equaliser with a 7-6(4) score line.
Hantuchova carried her spark in the final set and subsequently sealed the decider with a 6-4 win. As a result, she sent the home nation back into World Group II and drove Slovakia in the elite group of the Fed Cup.
“I’m really proud of the way I have played,” said the Jubilant Slovak. “It was a very tough match for me, especially with my injury. I was struggling a lot and I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to play, and that is why this
victory is that much more important.”
The 29-year-old is looking forward to recover quickly and is bidding for her sixth career title at the next event she enters.
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