Hantuchova turns the heat on Zhang Ling
Slovak second seed suffers under the burning sun but still proves too hot for the local ace in their afternoon encounter at the Hong Kong Open
It was hot, hot, hot for Daniela Hantuchova as she made her appearance at the Prudential Hong Kong Open, but the second seed coped with it simply by changing her dress, while local favourite Zhang Ling sadly couldn't quite turn the heat on her opponent yesterday.
Hantuchova took a bathroom break trailing 0-3 in the second set and re-emerged in a new kit that rejuvenated her as she turned things around to finish with a 6-1, 6-4 victory to march into the second round.
It was hot enough to fry an egg on centre court at Victoria Park yesterday afternoon with temperatures probably a couple of degrees Celsius higher than the recorded 33 when play started at 1pm.
It was very hot out there and the most difficult conditions I have played in
And up first was Hantuchova who later described it as the "worst conditions" she had ever played in after being forced into the wardrobe change for her sweat-laden attire.
"It was very hot out there and the most difficult conditions I have played in and I started to struggle. When you struggle you tend to lose focus and you don't play the right shots at the right time,' Hantuchova said.
"It was impossible to stay on court. My dress was heavy and one metre longer and I was feeling uncomfortable. I had to change," added Hantuchova.
