TELECOM ITALIA MASTERS

May 14, 2003

Daniela Hantuchova

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely. Always matches like this are worth another five matches, and especially when I win this match as it gives me a lot of confidence. Today was really tough because Magui was playing well. I'm just glad how I fought in the third set and I just hang in there and waited for my chances and then when they came, I used them.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, I have to say at the end of the match I felt very good physically and that's what I was really happy about, that even though I spend there quite a while - I guess two and a half hour - I still felt really fit and fresh at the end. I think that made the difference, that I sort of felt that Magui was getting a bit tired, and that gave me a bit more confidence. And I was just trying to go for my shots, and it paid off in the end.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I mean, I wouldn't say I was struggling. I won two important matches for the Fed Cup, we won that. And then it was just bad luck in Warsaw. I did quarterfinals in Berlin and I had a really, really close match there with Mikaelian, which I won 7-6 in the third. Today was similar. As I said, these matches are worth another five matches. You know, I feel like I'm, you know, starting to play well on the clay and that's important for the French Open.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, I mean, she's very good at it. She's got really great hands. I was expecting it. A couple of times I just couldn't believe that she hit those from positions that I would never expected. I mean, all the credit to her the way she was hitting those.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, I mean... but that's what she does, and she's very good at it.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Oh, great. I mean, especially after winning a match like this. I love clay, and I love being here in Europe. I'm really enjoying my time here in Rome and looking forward for the French Open. I think I'm doing fine so far this year, and I just have to keep going and hopefully get higher and higher.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Here in Rome there is just so many. Anywhere we go, I mean, was great. I just love being here so much because this is, for me, my most favorite city in the world. So I just really enjoy being this week here in Rome.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, yeah, I saw them. I think it's great, you know, when I know they are supporting me. At the end, in the third set, the atmosphere was great. You know, I really enjoy playing in front of them.

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, as you saw today, I mean, I spend there three hours almost on the court. I practiced for another hour-and-something in the morning, and yesterday we practice and train. So, I mean, I guess I'm burning it off. But, you know, I'm eating, eating well. It's just that in the last couple of months, weeks, I have played a lot, and a lot of matches like this. So, you know, it's good that I can eat whatever I want so...

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I mean, in the last couple of nights we have been in really nice places and whatever we have eaten was great. I mean, I like, you know, the prosciutto and melon and all the different pastas. I mean, I really like Italian kitchens - and ice cream for sure (smiling).

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Poco, poco. I'm trying and learning. Still I have to improve. But hopefully next year by this time it will be better.