Irresistible, infuriating, inspiring, inconsistent: A fond farewell to Daniela Hantuchova

July 6th 2017 saw the 18 year career of one of my tennis heroes come to a close as Daniela Hantuchova called time on her playing days. Together with first Tim Henman and then Roger Federer, Hantuchova has been the player I’ve admired most for almost two decades. In that time I’ve had to […]

Great product; shame about the name. Hantuchova’s vegan snacks are D-one

Federer may still be going strong, but Tim Henman of course hung up his underachieving racquet long ago. Now, it is (almost) time to bid farewell to my other favourite player. Daniela Hantuchová continues to compete, but this is on the International circuit and she is now undoubtedly a star on the wane. The signs of […]

February results round-up

My favourites fought back in February as Federer and Hantuchova were amongst the tournament winners last month. Elsewhere there were big wins for Petkovic (Antwerp), Halep -my women’s favourite elect once Dani retires – (Dubai), and Safarova (impressively beating Azarenka in Doha). The men’s winners included Wawrinka (nicely banishing the disappointment of Oz winning in Rotterdam), […]

Pattaya Perfection! Hantuchova makes it a hat-trick in Thailand

Pattaya on a plate – Does this early triumph point to more success in 2015? On a day which saw arguably much bigger stories within the sport (I’m thinking of Wawrinka’s bullish win over Berdych in Rotterdam or Petkovic’s triumph in Antwerp including a very special exhibition match) I will instead focus on a favourite […]

US Open 2014: Day 3 round-up and Day 4 picks

As American fortunes continue to fluctuate in the city that never sleeps, the spectacle rolls on with aplomb. More big names exited and already some ‘stars of this year’s Open’ are beginning to etch their image into our collective psyche. The women provided the main talking points: Agnieska Radwanska compounded her disappointingly inconsistent season with a […]

US Open 2014: Day Two round-up and picks for Day 3

It was a business-like second day in New York with all but a couple of seeds and fancied names emerging victorious with little effort. Roger Federer stood firm against stubborn journeyman Matosevic with the big American duo John Isner and Sam Querrey joining the Swiss in round 2 after wins of contrasting effort. Through also is […]

Grass at last! Hantuchova wins Birmingham title but Vekic is one-to-watch

Will this sixth career title mark a turnaround in 2013? It was one of many glaring omissions from a career that has promised so much and delivered precious little. That may sound unfair but ask any pundit, fan or armchair critic alike (well maybe don’t bother with the latter) for a perennial underachiever in the […]

Shock, surprise and sweaty palms- Daniela defends Pattaya title in typical fashion

A shameless plug once again for one of my longterm faves. No apologies… A week and a bit ago me, my better half and a bunch of mates were lapping up the snow, sun and scarlet vino up in the French Alps on a skiing sojourn. 2012 Pattaya is the first WTA title Daniela has […]

Good things…..

Come to those who wait – a saying perfectly apt for a pint of Guinness or my search for a job which allowed me to stick two fingers up at the idiots who run Odeon Chelmsford (and it’s chavvy/up their own arse customers). A saying equally apt for most of my sporting idols to triumph […]

It’s a different Daniela!

Daniela Hantuchova played possibly her most impressive match last night with a dominant victory over vastly talented seed-killer Agnieska Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-2. The game itself was no classic; being the first match of the day the intense atmosphere and full capacity crowd were missing. But a high quality level was evident from both […]