In July one of Slovakia's best tennis players ever Daniela Hantuchová announced her decision to put the final dot to her professional career. Her public goodbye, however, will take place on November 15th in Bratislava during an exhibition match with four times Grand Slam champion and former world number one in both singles and doubles Kim Clijsters.
"I'm very glad to be able to say goodbye to Slovak fans. I wanted to attract to Bratislava someone who had such as long a career as I did and whom I know well. Kim and I have known each other since we were 13 years old and we do not need to talk too much about her tennis skills. We often trained together, our families know each other too. When I asked her if she would like to play this exhibition match, she did not hesitate for a second. I have a negative record against her in my tennis career, her style just did not suit me but I hope she lets me win at home this time."
Said Hantuchová whose professional career started in 1999. The former world no 5 player won 7 singles titles, was an Australian Open semi-finalist in 2008 and also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. She is also a record holder when it comes to the number of ties played for Slovakia in the FedCup which she won in 2002. This year after a rib injury she began thinking of retiring. In an interview for the website of WTA she said that she started to be focused on her own business and hopes to start a family when she meets the man of her life. Apart from the protein bar business Daniela would not shy away from spending time as a tennis TV commentator.
