The incredible transformation of former tennis star Daniela Hantuchova

Winning hearts

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Daniela Hantuchova won the hearts of tennis fans throughout her career and led an equally remarkable life off the court.

Down memory lane

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Take a journey with us as we revisit the extraordinary story of this former tennis star.

Grandmother

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

She started playing tennis thanks to her grandmother Helena, who was a former champion, per The Herald.

Pro in 1999

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Hantuchova turned pro in 1999 and made her way up the rankings.

First big results

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

In 2000 and 2001, Hantuchova started to make a name for herself. She reached the quarter-finals in Strasbourg and the semi's at the U.S. Indoor Championships in singles.

Wimbledon

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

In 2001, she also enjoyed a highly successful mixed doubles run at Wimbledon, taking the title alongside Leoš Friedl, according to the BBC.

Breakthrough year

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

2002 is considered Hantuchova's breakthrough year. She reached the Australian Open doubles final with her partner Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, which they lost to Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova.

Doubles title

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

That same year, Hantuchova would overcome disappointment in mixed doubles by winning the Australian Open alongside Kevin Ulyett, per ESPN.

Indian Wells Masters

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

In singles, she then won the Indian Wells Masters by defeating top player Martina Hingis in the final. It was Hantuchova's first ever WTA title. She would continue to perform well in 2002, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

2003

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

2003 was a difficult year for Hantuchova, who was world No. 5 at the time. Her parents got divorced, doubts were raised about her health due to a weight problem, and she parted ways with her coach Nigel Sears.

Doubles successes

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

In 2005, Hantuchova would be successful in mixed doubles. She won Roland Garros and the US Open, earning a career grand slam, per Tennis Now reports.

Keeping up the good work

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Hantuchova would continue to excel in doubles. For the rest of her career, she would reach two more Grand Slam doubles finals, but lost them all.

Seven titles

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Despite her success in doubles and mixed doubles, Hantuchova will be remembered primarily by many as an excellent singles player. Throughout her career, she would win seven WTA titles, according to WTA Tennis, including Indian Wells (2x) and the Thailand Open.

Best Grand Slam result

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

Her best Grand Slam result came in 2008, when she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open.

Retirement

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Hantuchova retired almost a decade later, on July 6, 2017.

Pianist

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In addition to being a former tennis player, Hantuchova is also a pianist. On YouTube, you can find several videos in which she demonstrates her piano skills.

Sports Illustrated model

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Hantuchova also appeared occasionally as a model. In 2009, she was on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition along with Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin.

'The Body Issue'

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In 2012, she featured unclothed in ESPN: The Magazine's 'The Body Issue'.

Commentator

Winning hearts, Down memory lane, Grandmother, Pro in 1999, First big results, Wimbledon, Breakthrough year, Doubles title, Indian Wells Masters, Doubles successes, Keeping up the good work, Seven titles, Best Grand Slam result, Retirement, Sports Illustrated model, 'The Body Issue', Commentator

After her playing career, Hantuchova worked as a tennis commentator and also hosted a sports and entertainment podcast.

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