Daniela Hantuchova: Musician, model and tennis star

Daniela Hantuchova was once a major tennis star, but she also made a name for herself off the court. Let's take a look back at her career and life.

Hantuchova was born April 23, 1983, in the Slovak town of Poprad.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

In 2002, she also won the Fed Cup with Slovakia, which she would top with the Hopman Cup in 2005.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

According to the Australian Open website, she currently resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where she is enjoying life after retiring from professional tennis.

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