Dates: May 11 - 18, 2011
Venue: Rome, Italy
Tier: Premier
Prize Money: $2,050,000
Surface: Clay/Outdoors
Tournament Director: Sergio Palmieri

Official Website:
www.internazionalibnlditalia.com

2012 performance: Did not Play.
Last Appearance: 2011 3rd round. Lost to Francesca Schiavone 3-6 6-2 7-5

Singles Qualifying:
1R: [11] Daniela Hantuchova bt Galina Voskoboeva (Kaz) 6-2 7-5
2R: [8] Simona Halep (ROU) bt [11] Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-2

Doubles:
1R:Samantha Stosur/Francesca Schiavone bt Daniela Hantuchova/Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-1

Daniela wins the first set 6-2 ...and the 2nd set 7-5
Well done -

I went to Daniela's match today. She played really well in the first set, serving well, striking the ball well and showing great touch while Voskoboeva was terrible. Daniela started the second set in a similar and got to 2-0, 15-40 on Voskoboeva's serve and if she'd broken then she'd have romped through the rest of the match. Voskoboeva then sterted played really well and her serve got a lot better with more power and accuracy while she cut out the errors on her groundstrokes and Voskoboeva's first serve became a weapon for her. Daniela had been hitting the ball flat for the first set and a bit but she starting hitting with more topspin and even put in some moonballs, so that levelled things up a bit. Voskoboeva played a lot better from behind in the second set as she came from 3-1 down to 3-3 and then 5-3 to 5-5, but as soon as she got level then she'd make errors again while Daniela would up her game. She broke Voskoboeva to 0 at 5-5 and then she was able to serve out the match at 6-5 on her second MP. I've got to admit I was a bit tense at the end of the second set but Daniela got the job done.

I saw a bit of Halep's match. She had no problems at all against Balducci who's a young Italian and Halep thrashed her. After the match she was hitting with her coach on one of the practice courts, she hadn't even changed or anything just went straight there from her match. The coach was giving her a better game. Kim Clijsters' daughter was playing on the next court making sandcastles with the clay. When I got to Halep's match it had just starteed while the ATP match on the next court was 2-2. Halep had won about the same time the first set of the men's match ended. It's difficult to say how well Halep is playing as she didn't get any competition in her match.

Roger Federer was having a practice match with Kevin Anderson on Centrale, so I watched him for a bit before Daniela's match. After Daniela's match I went round the grounds for a bit and saw Kuznetsova hitting with Vesnina. Kuznetsova was wearing a flourescent yellow/green t-shirt, so she could play a night match without floodlights. Baghdatis was hitting with Zimonjic next door and it looks like Zelko Krajan is coaching Baghdatis now (I thought he was still with Laura Robson but there you, shows you what I know). I think I saw Tiffany Nesfield running on a treadmill in the players gym. Daniela was with Nicolas & Nesfield and they don't give the coaches comfy chairs on Pietrangelo, the chairs are basically bar stools with a back.

Anyway, Daniela played well today, she got a good win against a potentially tricky opponent, who was tricky at times, but Daniela came through when it mattered. It was great to see her win. She gets some more points which will help her rankings.

Thanks for the report chungwit! Did she show a nice reaction when she won? Hope you bring her good fortune tomo too.

I showed a nice reaction anyway, eddy. A big scream of YESSS!!! from me with a double fist pump. Daniela shook hands fairly amicably with Voskoboeva at the end and signed some autographs but I didn't get one as a I was sitting in a different section of the stadium for the maatch so I tried to run round and down to get her autograph but I was too slow so missed out but a lot of kids got autographs. I'd have gotten her to sigh a Rome guidebook while everyone was getting her to sign giant tennis balls or programmes. I did get a Mario Ballotelli t-shirt there. I've got to admit that Foro Italico is really nice, they did a great job over the past couple of days sprucing it up.

Pro's Pro! #498!

Very happy for you, Chungwit! When I was able to get the autograph/photo in Miami, I was lucky because there was only one way for the players to enter and leave. Maybe later in the tourney you'll get your chance. Hope so!
I was taken to a mall by my wife (and I'm glad she's up to shopping again), so it was crappy phone time again. The end of the match was pure Maalox-moments, particularly when she faced a break point for a super-dreaded tiebreaker, but Daniela was a pro again and got the job done. How about 28-35 1st serve points won? Her stats on serve are starting to show signs of consistent improvement, and she's definitely getting more aces. Now I can rest easier with Sharapova getting #500 today, which will greaten the chances that when Dani reaches it, hopefully Monday or Tuesday if she beats Halep and gets fortunate with the draw, she'll get the attention and love she deserves.

Halep serving for the set.

What is Halpe's gamestyle?

I can see that. I bet she is just UEing her way out of the match.

Be calmed and win in 3 sets!

Broken yet again. This is not looking well, is it?

2 game points wasted. Oh, dear.