Daniela and Flavia are both in their 30s and they are definitely not in their prime, but they have still some tennis in their rackets.
Hantuchova
Former world no.5 (in 2003!), Daniela was meant to make headlines by partnering with Martina Hingis in the doubles. Well… that went a bit unnoticed as the couple didn’t really shine to lose in their opener. Instead Daniela surprised everybody by reaching the quarters in New York.
She didn’t beat any top player as she took full advantage of a series of upsets in her part of the draw (Stosur, Barthel, Kvitova and Petrova), but still… after defeating world 81 Alison Riske in 3 sets, she got to the quarters to play either Azarenka or Ivanovic. We will have a very good looking quarter…
Pennetta
Former world no10, Flavia is recovering from an injury that has side-lined her for some time. There is a big difference with Daniela’s path as Pennetta had to confront and beat lots of top players.
In the second round she trashed her compatriot (and seed no.5) Sara Errani. In the third she beat former world no.1 Svetlana Kutznetsova and, best of all, she defeated a (very) in-form Simona Halep in the fourth round 6-2 7-6 (3) to probably by the favourite to win the against Roberta Vinci in the quarters and reach an unexpected semifinal at the US Open.
Are these two going to surprise once again?