Daniela Hantuchová

By Ines Mendoza

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For years, women's tennis was regarded as little more than a joke that wasn't particularly funny. It was the punchline for just about every comment that began with "this thing is almost as interesting as..."

However, in recent years, that has all changed. Sure, the quality of the tennis has improved dramatically. The gals currently on the circuit are dynamic, super fit and incredibly talented. 

However, the fact that the average female tennis player is now considered "pretty damn hot" hasn't hurt interest levels either.

Slovak professional tennis player Daniela Hantuchová is on of the "pretty damn hot" and talented players.

Born in 1983, Hantuchová turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first Tier I tournament - ending that year in the Top 10.

Currently coached by Larri Passos, Daniela has been surrounded by champions for most of her playing career. Her WTA Tour mentor in the "Partners for Success" program was the one and only Martina Navrátilová, who was her doubles partner for a brief period in early 2005.

In fact, 2005 proved to be something of a break out year for the sexy leggy blonde,  when she became the fifth female tennis player to have won the mixed doubles title in all four Grand Slam tournaments during her career.

However, it's not all about balls, rackets and lines men for this young Slovack.

Born in Poprad, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) to her computer scientist father Igor and toxicologist mother Marianna (whose split in 2003 led to Daniela's performances temporarily worsen) has also donned a bikini in order to appear in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition alongside Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin in a pictoral entitled Volley of the Dolls.

It's a long way from her disasterous 2003 in which she  failed to convert several match points and was seen weeping on court, which led to a severe weight problem many suspected was due to being anorexic (although Hantuchová has since denied this was the case).

Luckily looks and sports aren't all that Daniela Hantuchová has going for her.

In fact, this spritely young lass speaks three languages (Slovak, English, and German) and was trained as a classical pianist. Hantuchová even qualified for university in Slovakia but deferred it to pursue tennis.

It turned out to be the right move - because as of January 2012, Hantuchová is ranked world no. 21 in singles.

Not to bad for a girl who was thought to be "washed up" 9 years earlier! Be sure to keep an eye on her at the Australian Open, she'll be the one steaming up the courts!

Daniela Hantuchová with Balls	Sexy Long Legs of Daniela Hantuchová