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Fed Cup 2014 World Group 1 – Slovakia versus Germany
First two weeks of february 2014 were all about tennis. Both Slovak Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams hosted their oponents in Bratislava. The women’s Fed Cup World Group 1 tie against Germany was certainly more prestigious one. Both teams had some amazing players in their line-ups. Team Slovakia consisted of 2014 Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova, two-times Fed Cup Heart Award winner Daniela Hantuchova, Magdalena Rybarikova and Jana Cepelova. The Germans arrived with World No. 9 Angelique Kerber, former Top 10 member Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges and doubles specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld. The Germans were supposed to be even stronger, but Wimbledon 2013 finalist Sabine Lisicki was not able to play due to injury.
Although the Germans won the tie 3:1, the matches were very close. In the opening match, Dominika Cibulkova won the first set against Andrea Petkovic 6:2. In second set tie-break, Dominika was trailing 1:6, managed to come back and lead 7:6, but Petkovic managed to win both tie-break and the match. Daniela Hantuchova then lost her match to German No. 1 Angelique Kerber in two sets. The first set was decided in tie-break and Angelique Kerber needed 11 points to secure the first set.
The Sunday’s battle of the leaders was again decided in tie-break. Angelique Kerber managed to win against Dominika Cibulkova 6:3, 7:6 and the German team advanced to the Fed Cup World Group 1 Semifinals. In the last match of the tie, Magdalena Rybarikova and Jana Cepelova secured the only Slovak point after a three set victory over Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. Luck was certainly on the German side this time, maybe because they played like a team, did their pre-match ritual like a team and celebrated the victory like a team.
The results:
Andrea Petkovic defeated Dominika Cibulkova 2:6, 7:6, 6:2
Angelique Kerber defeated Daniela Hantuchova 7:6, 6:1
Angelique Kerber defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6:3, 7:6
Magdalena Rybarikova, Jana Cepelova defeated Julia Goerges, Anna-Lena Groenefeld 4:6, 6:3, 10:7
Some of my favorite photos from the weekend are below (click on the photo to see slightly larger version).
Tennis Classic 2013 – The Twilight Edition
Yesterday, I attended the 6th annual Tennis Classic Exhibition in Bratislava. This year’s participants were the former leader of WTA Ranking Martina Hingis from Switzerland, the French ATP tennis players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils and the Slovak tennis star Daniela Hantuchova.
Because of the odd choice of lighting, I gave it a nick name “The Twilight Edition”. The lights were a lot dimmer than usual and they also used various colored spotlights. This created an intimate and visually interesting atmosphere for the fans, but it was a nightmare to shoot it due to darkness, changing lights and changing white balance.
The exhibition consisted of three matches and a charity auction. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils played the first singles match. Tsonga won the match in three sets. Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Hingis then played the short singles game. Hingis won the match 11:9. The traditional auction took place during the intermission. All players donated their autographed racquets, apparel and various other prices. The proceedings will support various charitable causes.
The mixed doubles was the last match of the exhibition. Even though Daniela and Martina started with their chosen partners, they ended up playing together and won the match. During the match, all players had microphones on them. I must say I’m not a fan of this “feature”. A lot of times, the words players say are pretty much inaudible. Two years ago, all the talking was downright annoying. This year it was surprisingly natural and it wasn’t very distracting. The hightlight of the mixed doubles was Daniela Hantuchova playing the piano.
My favorite photos from the event are below (click on the photos to see larger versions) and the whole gallery can be seen on my Slovak blog: http://hutera.blog.sme.sk/c/343916/Tennis-Classic-2013.html.
Martina Hingis, Daniela Hantuchova, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova
Gael Monfils, Chair Umpire of the match Michal Varmus and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Daniela Hantuchova playing the piano
Charity auction
Daniela Hantuchova in Fed Cup
This weekend, the first round of 2013 edition of Fed Cup (the most prestigious women’s team competition in tennis) will take place all over the world. I decited to dedicate a few photos to the player that started it all for me. Eleven years ago I watched Daniela Hantuchova in a nerve-wrecking final match against Conchita Martinez of Spain. I became a fan and dreamed that once I’ll be able to photograph such an event. We’ve been waiting for another title ever since. But over the years, I’ve been able to take some nice photos of Daniela in various Fed Cup ties. Good luck against Serbia this weekend!
2012 – vs. France
2011 – Players Party – vs. Serbia
2007 – vs. Czech Republic
2007 – vs. Serbia
2011 – vs. Czech Republic
2010 – vs. China
2011 – vs. Czech Republic
2012 – vs. France
2009 – vs. Belgium
2011 – vs. Serbia
2007 – vs. Serbia
2009 – Training – vs. Belgium
2011 – vs. Serbia
2007 – vs. Czech Republic
2009 – vs. Belgium
Portfolio Items
Hungarian Parliament Evening, Budapest, Hungary31/05/2024 - 17:55
Torah Ark, Spanish Synagogue, Prague, Czech republic03/07/2023 - 20:36
Golden Lane Twilight, Prague Castle, Czech Republic03/07/2023 - 20:24
Cesky Krumlov Summer Midday13/02/2023 - 21:14
Storm Chaser – Rainbow Catcher12/02/2023 - 15:35
Banska Stiavnica Rooftops from the Old Castle 202229/08/2022 - 22:49
Cherry Tree and Afternoon Clouds, Slovakia27/05/2022 - 22:12
Geographical center of Europe – A tribute to Karol Plicka27/08/2021 - 19:02
Mikulasa Schneidera Trnavskeho, Trnava, Slovakia06/10/2019 - 21:32