INTERVIEW: Hantuchova, the tennis player who wants to stay real

By Sebastian Fest Jan 19, 2012, 12:18 GMT

Melbourne - She may be known for her tennis skills and her beauty, but Slovak player and occasional model Daniela Hantuchova is more interested in leading a 'normal' life.

Tennis is a 'bubble' in which one can easily lose one's sense of reality, Hantuchova, who returned to university to prepare her exit from that world, told German Press Agency dpa in an interview at the Australian Open.

'It's a really big bubble. Sometimes people forget the reality, but that's the reason I like to have my family and friends with me, to go back home between tournaments and try to stay in the real life for a while,' Hantuchova says.

She also confessed to having made 'mistakes' in the past and confided in being able to follow the example of other successful veterans at the Grand Slams.

The 28-year-old currently ranks 21st in the world, but she was fifth in 2003 and spent a long time in the top 10.

Success came early, coinciding with the separation of her parents. Concern grew in tennis circles over her loss of weight and nervousness at games.

'I've made my mistakes in the past, but as long as I can learn from experience, I think it's good,' she says.

Indian Wells Masters champion in 2002 and 2007, Hantuchova ended a four-year title drought in Pattaya in late 2011.

Her biggest opportunity at the Australian Open came in 2008, when she led the semi-final against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 2-0 but went down in three.

'I feel like that was definitely my chance, I could have won. Hopefully there are many more to come. The stress factor came. If I can put myself in this situation again, I think it might work,' Hantuchova says.

The Slovak feels inspired by players such as Italy's Francesca Schiavone and Chinese Li Na, who made breakthroughs at the age of about 30 years.

'I hope to do the same,' she says.

Hantuchova's career is unusual. She barely won four tournaments, though she has ruled at Grand Slam mixed doubles. Between 2001 and 2005, she conquered Roland Garros, US Open, Australia and Wimbledon.

Top 30 in nine of the last 10 seasons, Hantuchova started the year rising to the final in Brisbane.

However, she does not live only for tennis, but took up management studies.

Tennis 'is just a very short part of my life, and once this is over I will transfer into normal life much easier if I know which the real values are,' she says.

However, tennis and fashion will always be part of the life of Hantuchova, who is also known for her work as a model.

'You never know where life is going to take you after retirement. Maybe sports, but I like fashion as well, so maybe combine both aspects,' she says.

Hantuchova has played 13 consecutive Australia Opens. She still remembers her first flight with her mother, in tourist class. She now flies in business class, but hates going from hotel to hotel.

Her goal for 2012 is to improve her game and to make it more 'aggressive,' but she has little interest in the battles for more money waged by some of her colleagues.

'These kind of things don't make me happy. I love doing what I do, not the money, the points,' she says.

She loves coming back home, she confesses, and taking up an old hobby: playing the piano.

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