AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2003

Daniela Hantuchova

MODERATOR: First question, please.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah. I mean, the match before us took forever. I mean, they played like for four hours. Was, you know, pretty tough to wait so long. But, I mean, that's what it takes sometimes. I think I'm pretty much used to it after having, you know, wait like this for a couple of matches also in Wimbledon last year. So, you know, it's just a question of, you know, staying calm and not to waste too much energy before the match.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: You know, I feel like I'm hitting the ball better and better from match to match. You know, I didn't know what to expect from her because I never played her. You know, I think, especially in the second set, I raised my level, and I'm glad that I got on top of her and that I got through this match so easy.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely I do remember a lot from that match. Can't say was a breakthrough; I didn't beat her. But that match gave me a lot of confidence. I was, you know, very close of beating her last year. You know, that's what I'm hoping -- you know, this year, to get to play her, and hopefully to do a little better than I did last year. Yeah, I mean, that match definitely gave me a lot of confidence for the whole year.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: First of all, it's the next one that I have to think about, which is against Patty Schnyder, who is a very tough player to play. First I have to think about that one before I start to think about Venus.