Hope I'm not jumping the gun, but........HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!

DANIFAN, please don't put so much text in the initial post!

I moved it to here:



Danni is back.....

Daniela Hantuchova, the world No.18, has today officially opened the new Indoor Tennis Centre at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham on the eve of the AEGON Classic tournament.

The indoor tennis centre is part of a £12m redevelopment of the club’s facilities, into which the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has invested £5 million as part of its commitment to grow and sustain the sport of tennis within the region.

The indoor tennis centre will enhance community access to world class facilities in the Birmingham area and provide a top quality environment for the development of the high performance programme which nurtures talented young tennis players. A new show court, with seating capacity for 2,500 spectators, will also be completed for the 2013 tournament along with a refurbishment of the clubhouse.

Slovakian Hantuchova was joined by AEGON Classic Tournament Director Patrick Hughesman, Edgbaston Priory Club chief executive Robert Bray and LTA Development Director Tom Harlow in opening the centre.

Hantuchova said: “It is an honour to be asked to open the new courts here at Edgbaston Priory Club and I’m looking forward playing on them at some point. The courts and the centre look fantastic.

“I love coming back to Birmingham and I have got good memories of playing here. I was pleased to reach the final last year but hopefully I can win the AEGON Classic this year.”

The Edgbaston Priory Club is the home of the AEGON Classic, which runs from June 11-17 and regularly attracts some of the world’s top female tennis players.

Hantuchova is in Birmingham looking to improve on last year’s performance in the AEGON Classic, where she was beaten in the final by German star Sabine Lisicki.

Tournament director Patrick Hughesman said: “The Edgbaston Priory Club is a superb tennis facility and the new indoor tennis centre only adds to its appeal.

“The players love playing on the grass courts here but now there is a top quality indoor facility which will be used by the local community as well as world class players.”

Robert Bray, chief executive of Edgbaston Priory Club said: “We are delighted Daniela Hantuchova was here to open our indoor tennis centre which completes Phase 1 of our redevelopment. The indoor tennis centre will enable us to deliver on our vision of increasing access to racquet sport locally, nurturing rising talent in the region and providing a first class facility for the world’s best players.

“With the completion of the showcourt in 2013, Edgbaston Priory Club will become firmly established as an international tournament venue, attracting world class players to the city of Birmingham and bringing with it vital business to the local economy.”

Kids’ Day will take place on Sunday 10 June when the final rounds of the qualifying competition will be taking place and there is free entry to the tournament. This provides a great opportunity for families to come and see world class players in action, as well as a special mixed doubles exhibition match taking place on Centre Court and the chance to take part in a tennis freestyle world record breaking attempt. Gates open 10am.

Well guys, here's something we have all missed doing for 7 weeks....obsessing about draws! Dani got #3 seed, and a 1st round bye. Her first match will be against either Anna Tatishvili or Melinda Czink. If it's Czink, how ironic would that be? Remember that she almost beat Daniela in Quebec City, and at one point she was writhing in pain, laying on the ground, nearly in tears. Of course, she got up and gutted out the victory, but then was pretty much forced to admit to the world about the foot problem. The draw looks extremely good, but that's irrelevant until we see how rusty and truly healed she is. But you know, it's just nice to write about Dani's chances in a tournament again! Let's Go, Daniela!

Not estastic about her probably having to play against Czink in her first match back but the rest of her quarter looks good providing she plays to her ability...weather's not looking brilliant in Brimingham...

Just seen that Schiavone took a WC into the tournament,and Lisicki ended up in Daniela's half.

Oh well-one match at a time.

Playing doubles will give Daniela some extra match practice which is something she could do with right now. Daniela and Sabine played in Cincinnati last year so they've got experience of playing together and they can both have some fun.

haha


This morning I was looking forward to a complete day of grass court tennis in Eurosport, but only the RG final was on... damn I have to work tomorrow, but Eurosport Player is still better than nothing ^^