Tennis fans have reacted with surprise after Daniela Hantuchova was confirmed as a participant in the Kooyong Classic this week – nine years after she retired from the WTA tour. The 42-year-old from Slovakia will hit the court alongside Alexandra Eala, Donna Vekic and Priscilla Hon for the event in Melbourne that serves as a key warm-up for the Australian Open.
Hantuchova reached a career-high singles ranking of World No.5 in 2003, and won seven WTA titles before retiring in 2017. She experienced her most success in doubles, winning four grand slams in mixed and a Fed Cup title with Slovakia in 2002. She made the women’s doubles final at the Australian Open in 2002 and 2009, but lost both.
Daniela Hantuchova (second from left) is playing the Kooying Classic despite being retired for nine years. (Image: AAP)
She’s continued to play legends doubles in the years since she retired, but her return at the Kooyong Classic has surprised fans as it’s an official event featuring current players. While Kooyong is technically an exhibition event, it still serves as a proper ATP/WTA tournament and always attracts some massive names before the Australian Open.
Daniela Hantuchova with Caroline Garcia and Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals in 2022. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)
On the men’s side, World No.3 Alexander Zverev is the headliner in a field that also includes top stars like Lorenzo Musetti, Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Karen Khachanov, Alexander Bublik, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov. So the fact Hantuchova is playing in the women’s draw is nothing to sneeze at, although it’s unclear whether it’s part of a fully-fledged comeback.
“Just letting you all know that I’ll be playing the Kooyong Classic 2026 for the very first time,” she said late last year in a video announcement. “I’m super excited as Kooyong obviously has some incredible history and always a favourite with the players. I can’t wait to see you all there.”
Serena and Venus Williams alongside Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama after the Australian Open women’s doubles final in 2009. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Tennis world surprised by Daniela Hantuchova return
The Kooying Classic’s official account wrote: “We can’t wait to see Daniela Hantuchova play at the Kooyong Classic for the first time!” The announcement has taken tennis fans completely aback, with many questioning whether it means she’s making an official comeback.
Scheduled from January 13 to 15, Kooyong is an exclusive, invitation-only exhibition tournament on hard court. Hantuchova has been touted as a ‘guest participant’ in the round-robin event.
Her inclusion will draw eyeballs to the event for what shapes as one of the strongest fields at Kooyong in years. Eala is the highest-ranked women’s player in the field at No.53, while Vekic is a former Wimbledon semi-finalist and Olympic silver medalist currently at World No.69.
Hon is the local favourite, with the Aussie currently ranked 121st. The other participants on the men’s side are Flavio Cobolli, Learner Tien, Matteo Berrettini, Marin Cilic, Zhang Zhizen and Bu Yunchaokete.