Berlin, May 07: Daniela Hantuchova's struggles continued before she held on to beat Austria's Barbara Schett in three sets yesterday at the German Open, where seven of the world's top 10 players are entered.
The world no. 9 Slovakian won 6-3 4-6 6-3 and advanced into the third round when Schett missed with a forehand at the US$1.224 million event.
Since reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals, Hantuchova has endured a string of early exits at tournament at the hands of lower ranked players. Until then, the 20-year-old had been on the rise, soaring into the top 20 last year and capturing Indian Wells. Schett is a former top 10 player, but she has plummeted to 55 and had lost nine straight matches until she ousted American Laura Granville in her first round match.
Justine Henin-Hardenne will begin her defence of the title she won last year -- beating Serena Williams in the final -- with a tough match later yesterday against Czech Daja Bedanova.



The Belgian, seeded second and ranked fourth, faces a 20-year-old voted the tour's newcomer of the year three years ago with wins over several top players like Monica Seles.



Currently the world no. 44, she has been as high as 16.


Bureau Report