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Hantuchova, Schiavone relish Bali challenge
Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova and Italian Francesca Schiavone both expressed excitement about returning to the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic that starts Sunday at the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua, Bali
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Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova and Italian Francesca Schiavone both expressed excitement about returning to the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic that starts Sunday at the Grand Hyatt in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Hantuchova, the runner-up at last year's tournament to American Lindsay Davenport, said she was set to make a comeback after a disappointing season caused by a stress fracture to her right heel.
Aggravation from injury showed throughout her season after she resigned from her clay court matches in Berlin, Rome, Istanbul and Roland Garros, as well as the grass court tournament in s'Hertogenbosch.
In June, she returned to the courts, but defeats in opening matches continued to plague Hantuchova's rhythm, losing at the second round at Wimbledon, Stanford and Los Angeles.
She was defeated by Denmark's rising star, Caroline Wozniacki, at the second round of the Beijing Olympics, and failed to make a mark at New Haven, losing to France's Alize Cornet.
Most recently, Hantuchova failed to get through the first round of the U.S. Open after losing to Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
"I hope the more relaxed atmosphere in Bali could help ease some of the pressure from these last few months," the 2007 and 2008 Australian Open semifinalist said.
Meanwhile, Schiavone said she was already too old to keep playing tennis, but that she could not stop because she loves her fans too much.
"I'm 28, and now I only get out to drink wine and come straight back home. My life is changing and I'm becoming a different person," she said.
She said what has not changed is her commitment to the game and her willingness to give her opponents the fight of their lives.
"I love my job and I want to share that love with everyone else," she said.
Schiavone is well known for upsetting world top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open earlier this year, although she eventually lost to Russian Elena Dementieva in the semifinals.
Later this year, she reached the French Open doubles final with Australian Casey Dellacqua.
"I'm just happy they're looking forward to my match in Bali and I hope I can give my best performance for all my fans," she said.
Beijing Olympics Bronze medalist Li Na and 2008 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Tamarine Tanasugarn from Thailand are also part of the world's top players who are slated to appear.
The Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic will run from Sept. 7 to 14, with US$225,000 in prize money up for grabs.
The tournament, a 2007 addition to the worldwide Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, will be played using its old format for the last time as organizers plan to upgrade the tournament level next year.
