Eastbourne (England), June 19: Slimline Slovak star Daniela Hantuchova hit back at rumours that her recent dip in form is linked to anorexia by advancing to the quarter-finals of the 585,000-dollar grass court tournament here. The fourth seed came away a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 winner over American Alexandra Stevenson in the pre-Wimbledon tune-up event, and declared that she had never felt fitter.
The 20-year-old from Bratislava, an inch under six feet tall and weighing under 56kg drew gasps from the crowd as her skinny figure emerged on court.
But despite a stuttering start when she twice lost her serve the Slovak held on and then brushed aside talk of an eating disorder. "I'm just lucky that I can eat what I want and not put on weight. I know what is being said but I just focus on my game and on my preparation and don't think too much about that other stuff", she said.

A Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, the Slovak admitted she had more on her mind these days than tennis.

"Although tennis is my priority I'm still taking up a few modelling offers because we girls naturally like the attention this sort of thing brings. That's natural".

Bureau Report