After a grueling two hour practice in hot, humid, and polluted conditions in Beijing Thursday, Daniela Hantuchova, dressed in a blue shorts and a black tank, looked far from the glamour girl image she exudes in magazines.
While she continues her preparations for her second Olympic Games, where the tennis event gets underway in two days time, she continues to be a cover girl whose popularity is growing.
The Slovakian beauty is currently gracing the pages of two of Italy’s premiere magazines, the May issue of Panorama and the July edition of Tennis Italiano, and was previously featured in the January 2005 issue of Italian Vogue.
Hantuchova’s love of Italy has been evident in her food (she loves Nutella) and fashion choices (she is a fan of Cavalli, Armani, and Missoni), while her WTA biography lists her favorite city as Rome.
Hantuchova is no stranger to modeling. She has been featured in numerous magazine photo spreads and walked the runway in a fashion show in Madrid in February.
While her residence is the tax haven of Monte Carlo, Monaco—a girl has to make a living-- Hantuchova does spend time training in Italy during the off season and in preparation for the clay court events with her Italian trainer Marco Panichi.
The 25-year-old has experienced a resurgence in her career following two title wins last year and a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open in January which catapulted her back into the Top 10. She missed the clay court swing with a heel injury and has struggled to get back into form, but looks to be on track in Beijing, where she will meet her former doubles partner and good friend, Ai Sugiyama of Japan, in the first round.
Women’s and men’s first round Olympic action begins Sunday, August 10.