From the players' lounge at the Western and Southern Open
FS OHIO STAFF |
Published: Monday, August 12, 2013, 10:07pm | 0 Comments
From the Players’ Lounge
By Daniela Hantuchova

First, a little bit about me: I’m from Slovakia, but I live in Monte Carlo now. I attended the famous Bollettieri Academy when I was a teenager and was admitted to one of the top universities in Slovakia but chose tennis instead. I’ve been on the WTA tour since 1999, and I’ve won six singles titles and nine doubles titles in my career. This year I won in Birmingham, England, one of the warm-up tournaments to Wimbledon.

In the next few days I’ll try to give you a little bit of an insiders’ look at the Western & Southern Open. It is a great tournament and I’m looking forward to the week.

First, I love being back in Cincinnati. What makes this stop stand out from the others is definitely the golf. I love playing golf, so having it right across the street at the Golf Center at Kings Island makes it much easier for us to get out there and hit a few balls. It’s a great way to relax and just get away from all the tennis world.

I haven’t had a chance to play golf yet because we’ve been on the practice courts every day from the morning until late afternoon, but hopefully, maybe tomorrow or after tomorrow.

I always enjoy coming back here. I really appreciate very much being given the wild card this year. That was a huge help for me and it’s great to be back.

Thanks for reading my blog. We hope to see you here at the Western & Southern Open this week. I’ll be playing singles and doubles, so look for me on the court!

From the players' lounge at the Western and Southern Open
FS OHIO STAFF |
Published: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 7:43pm | 0 Comments
From the Players Lounge
By Daniela Hantuchova

Editor’s note: During the Western & Southern Open, WTA tennis star Daniela Hantuchova will be blogging about life on tour and her time in Mason, Ohio. Follow her on Twitter @dhantuchova.

My time here at the Western & Southern Open unfortunately is not as long as I was hoping it would be. After winning our first doubles match, my partner, Martina Hingis and I were eliminated from the tournament last night. If it is any consolation, we did lose to the top ranked doubles team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

Now it’s time to turn our attention to the next tournament, the New Haven Open. I thank the tournament staff there for offering me a singles and doubles wildcard into the field. Here is a story about it from their website.

People have asked what players do to relax between matches. I like shopping. Actually I went the other day to Kenwood Towne Center, so that was fun. When it’s hot like it has been and we work out so much in the gym and on the court, we just try to take it easy and not to do too many crazy things. And there are also a lot of cinemas around here so it’s actually a very nice week, I think all the players enjoy being here.

I’m also asked about how I get ready for a match. I think everybody has their own little things that they like to do. I like to kind of get away from everything and just focus on what I have to do in my match. Music is part of it. The type depends—every week’s different, it’s whatever I’m in the mood for.

Again, I wish my stay here in Cincinnati had been a little longer, but we will head to New Haven to get ready for the tournament there. Thanks to the staff here at the Western & Southern Open for offering me the wild card entry here. I appreciate it very much. And thank you to the fans who have been coming out in record numbers to cheer us on. Hope you follow us to New Haven and beyond, and we hope to see you again next year!

WTA has helped grow women's tennis for 40 years
Published: Monday, August 19, 2013

By Chris Hunn, Register Staff
/ Twitter: @Chris_Hunn

NEW HAVEN — Led by Billie Jean King, a group of nine women signed $1 contracts with World Tennis publications publisher Gladys Heldman to compete in the new Virginia Slim Series back in 1970. The Original 9 they were called. It marked the birth of women’s professional tennis.

That got the ball rolling.

Then four years later, King and 63 other women held a meeting at the Gloucester Hotel in London the week before Wimbledon. They aimed for equality and respect. When the meeting was over, the Women’s Tennis Association was formed.

From a small tour of events covering 10 countries, the WTA has developed into a 54-event circuit over 33 countries and has $118 million in prize money as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year — the driving force of the WTA’s 40 Love campaign.

“Quite a 40 years of empowerment and unprecedented growth for women’s tennis,” WTA CEO Stacey Allaster said. “Here we are in 2013: Billie’s dream. Any girl in the world that wants to play professional tennis would have the opportunity. Players are living the dream, even people like me.”

The sport has clearly evolved over the years.

From King beating Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973 and the WTA signing its first television deal with CBS a year later, to women achieving equal prize money for all four Grand Slams in 2007.

The play, too, has changed. Players are stronger, faster and more powerful.

“So much, especially physically,” said 30-year-old Daniela Hantuchova after her match Monday at the New Haven Open. “Everyone is fit these days and very professional. Only thing that’s missing, the finesse of the game: using the whole court, the drop shot, the angles, the lobs. These days it’s so fast you don’t really have time for any of that. It’s a little bit unfortunate, but it is what it is. You just have to adjust.”

Furthermore, check out the list of the 10 highest-paid female athletes. Of the 10, seven are tennis players, including the top four. Maria Sharapova ($29 million), Serena Williams ($20.5 million) and Li Na ($18.2 million) head the list, proving, perhaps, tennis is the leader in women’s professional sports.
The endorsement deals seem endless. The sport has opened up other avenues for players like Sharapova, who has become a successful entrepreneur with her brand of sweets called Sugarpova.

This generation is grateful for those who paved the way.

“I’m happy that it’s happening,” 21-year-old Simona Halep said. “I want to thank everyone that’s supported it. I want to play and keep helping grow the WTA.”

As for the future, Allaster hopes to grow the WTA even more globally. India, Asia-Pacific and younger consumers are priorities. Singapore will host the WTA’s season-ending championships from 2014-2018.

“Marrying the global world and the sport,” Allaster said. “Continue to nurture and grow. This was the vision 40 years ago.”

Daniela was asked months ago about the lack of a 2013 calendar. I recall that she promised there would be one for 2014. Unlike most politicians, especially here in the US, Daniela keeps her promises!

Prince ‏@Prince_Tennis 1h
It will be a big night at #PrinceNYC tonight. @dhantuchova will be hanging out at 7pm. Come by and meet Daniela. pic.twitter.com/bShJseUWR9

A terrific article about a wonderful player and an even better person.