Tennis off-season draws to a close but before the girls hit the courts, there's still some boxing to be done first. Fan favorite Daniela Hantuchova has long been pressed into making her debut and her chance finally comes when fellow star Ana Ivanovic agrees to make her return to action after over three years away from the ring.

"I'd be much more happy if Maria Sharapova agreed to fight me first. We have a feud to settle and it's been three years since she offended me at "my home" Indian Wells", so Daniela explains. "I was extremely amused when she got knocked out by the American skier Vonn lately, guess that is the prime reason that she avoids me now. But I'll get her sooner rather then later! I might brush aside the girls I've done the SI swimsuit shoot with, whatever helps me to punish and humiliate Sharapova next year!".

"I've been #1 back in the day", Ivanovic comments, "and Daniela has been riding too many coat-tails throughout her career. Let's be honest, she's a definition of loser! I know it's been three years since I last fought, but I'm back with a vengence and don't care about her personal feuds with Sharapova or anyone else. I just want to knock her out!".

Ivanovic a couple of inches taller and full 15 lbs heavier than Hantuchova comes in as perhaps a slight favorite but the Slovakian blonde looks focused on the task and isn't here to get knocked out in the opening round!

Hantuchova wearing a light green bikni, made famous in her SI swimsuit shoot and black gloves. Ivanovic, a former cover athlete for SI herself, wearing a bright yellow bikini and black gloves. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
Hantuchova eager to stamp her authority early on, jabs at the Serb with impressive intensity, but Ana just walks around the shots and counters with single punches to the body. Daniel absorbs them well, taking the most on her arms and gloves. Both girls continue to circle around and keeping the distance but Hantuchova tries some fancy hooks only to see Ivanovic duck away from them easily. Daniela tries to come forward, but Ana shrugs her off with solid jabs to the chest and the Slovak has to back away. Ivanovic looks to step it up herself late on, but Daniela sidesteps along the ropes and the Serbian can only graze her in the arms and gloves.

Round 2:
More circling around the ropes as first but then Ivanovic finally steps in with more aggression and laces her rival in the chest before trying to follow up with an uppercut to the jaw. Daniela bounces off the ropes and ducks low, avoiding both the uppercut and another flying hook that comes after that. Ivanovic looking menacing, leaps forward again and has the Slovak dancing around the ring in avoidance. Daniela finally throws some response with Ivanovic squaring up to her mid-ring. Couple of solid jabs catch the brunette in the midsection but Ana's unmoved; romps her opponent in the face with a clean hook. Daniela tries to ignore it and launches a jabbing sequence, but Ivanovic stops her in the tracks, landing another big punch to the guts. Hantuchova firmly on the back foot now, jumps away and avoids the brunette as Ana chases her around the ring until the bell. Very weak round for the Slovak and she hasn't kicked into the gear yet.

Round 3:
Ivanovic spurred on by the second; continues coming forward and peppers Hantuchova's arms from mid-range. Nothing too fancy and dangerous, but Daniela can't make her move and reverts to ducking and weaving around the brunette's attacks. Ivanovic tries to close the distance and backs the blonde to the ropes, but her low jabs crash off Hantuchova's guard and suddenly the Slovak counters with a right hook to the ear! Ivanovic was slow to react for that one and her head snaps backwards as she jumps away. Daniela pours in with response, but a chaotic charge sees most of her punches land on the brunette's arms and gloves. Ana still not comfortable, covers up and allows Hantuchova to push her to the ropes. Daniela somewhat slow in taking over the control; allows Ivanovic to clinch her and both girls tangle up in a stalemate. Ref separates them, but they throw fake punches and circle around until the bell.

Round 4:
Ivanovic more upset then resigned about the previous round shouts out "lucky punch" towards her opponent. Hantuchova still focused; keeping her guard high as the Serb steps in and lands a couple of jabs to the guts. Daniela responds with a hook to the head, but this time Ana sidesteps to the right and flanks a counter which clearly lands on the blonde's ribs. Hantuchova slow to turn herself, allows the brunette to pour in with more jabs to the midsection and she's backed against the ropes. Ivanovic jumps on her with a lot of confidence, upping the tempo; throwing more punches to the body. Hantuchova covers up along the ropes, but still takes a large ammount of punishment as Ivanovic looks superior in close distance. Series of hooks to the ribs force a loud moan of pain from the Slovak and Ivanovic unloads a big uppercut to the jaw that breaks her foe's guard wide open. Daniela leans on the Serb and just as Ana was about to nail her clean in the jaw, she gets headbutted in the eye from close range. The following hook only grazes Daniela's head and the briefly stunned Serb crashes into her rival, allowing Hantuchova to clinch. Ivanovic is furious, turns her head away at the ref and wants the headbutt to be called. The man in charge shakes his head, he's having none of it. More trouble for the brunette, Hantuchova laces her several times in the ribs and ducks lower under the elbow. Ana tries to shrig her off and manages to do it, but then gets send back to center of the ring with a nasty jab to the boobs. She's absolutely livid at the bell, but Hantuchova completely ignores her while walking back to the corner.

Round 5:
Ana melting down inside with anger, jumps at her rival straight after the bell, but Daniela circles around the ropes and even the longer reach can't make the difference for the brunette. She finally pauses and catches a breath as Hantuchova weaves around and teases her with dropping her gloves down. Ivanovic moves in, throws in a hook for the right; it misses and here's the counter as Daniela lands a nasty jab to the ribs and follows up with a stiff one to the jaw. Ana bends back and avoids getting nailed, but loses her footing and the Slovak catches her in the cheek from the other side! Ivanovic rocked out of the comfort zone, rooted to the spot, allows the blonde to land another vicious jabbing sequence to the jugs before finally jumping away. Hantuchova methodically moves in on her though, throwing well-placed jabs and forcing the brunette to cover up. Series of straight punches to the head is blocked off, but just as Ivanovic was looking for response, Daniela sidesteps out of reach again forcing the Serb to shake her head in disgust. Daniela weaves around the ring and Ana wastes her time by trying to somehow nail her. Her fruitless efforts are finally halted by the bell, but at half-distance it's clear that strenght advantage for Ivanovic is well matched by Hantuchova's speed and tactics, something that the brunette wasn't exactly expecting.

Round 6:
Hantuchova still keeps the distance and Ivanovic gets more and more frustrated. Single jabs from the Serb don't cause any damage and only graze the Slovak's flesh who in turn is able to respond with solid ones on her own. Ivanovic still in good shape, sidesteps to the right, tries to work around her rival's face. Daniela's too quick for her though; several attempts miss the target and add further misery to Ana's game plan. Hantuchova briefly stuns her with a low combination to the midsection as Ivanovic was rooted to the spot for a moment. She tries to launch a counter, but Daniela jumps away and walks around her with gloves by her side. Ivanovic steps in, lands a jab to the chest, but gets rocked with a big right to the ribs and her own hook misses the blonde's head by a mile. Hantuchova turns around the brunette and peppers her in the guts couple of more times before jumping away again. Ana neither can reach her nor trap along the ropes as Daniela ducks under her elbow. She circles back to center of the ring and teases her with more ducking and weaving. Ivanovic throws a good combination to the midsection and manages to catch the Slovakian's stomach once but Daniela responds with a nasty hook to the eye as she jumps back. Ana bends forward and loses her balance for a moment and Hantuchova comes at her, landing nasty jabs in the chest and forcing her to cover up. Couple of sharp hooks test Ivanovic's guard to the limit, but it holds up well and Daniela jumps away to safety.

Round 7:
Ivanovic puzzled during the interval, waiving her gloves vigorously and talking to herself. Hantuchova calm and collected in the other corner, stares at the brunette with her cold blue eyes. Off they go into the seventh and Daniela moves on her rival rather unexpectedly, nailing her in the jugs before landing another big hook to the eye. Ana moans in pain and bends down as Hantuchova pounces and unloads more quick hooks to the chest. Ivanovic wobbles and manages to clinch her opponent's waist. The Slovak's slow to react for once, if she expected the brunette to go down on her back! Ref separates the girls and Ivanovic tries to turn her fortunes around by throwing a big hook to the face. Hantuchova's too slow for the second time, takes it straight on the nose before jumping away. First wounds start to appear as Ana's eye starts to swell while Daniela wipes the nose with top of her glove and checks for any blood marks. There aren't any to be spotted, but she looks shaken by that last hit and circles back around the ropes. Ivanovic catching her breath as well, fakes a couple of punches but doesn't ignite any serious moves. Inside the last minute Daniela slightly more agile, throws single punches to the stomach, but Ana covers up well and responds with some hooks to the head which are evaded by the Slovakian.

Round 8:
Ivanovic tries to close the distance again, jumps at the blonde and softens her with a couple of hooks to the ribs. Hantuchova stumbles over and allows the brunette to push her into the corner where Ana unloads heavy jabs to the stomach. Daniela clinches, but takes a massive series in the guts and moans in pain, as she tries to drag her opponent down. Ana laces her in the back and causes more damage as Daniela is visibly hurt, her eyes closed as she wraps her arms around the Serbian's neck. Ref finally separates them and as Hantuchova was looking to jump to the side, Ivanovic nails her in the jugs with a quick right and follows up with an uppercut from the left. Daniela stunned, gets nailed in the jaw and goes down on her knees!!! Ivanovic shakes her glove in delight as she's finally broken the blonde's resistance but Hantuchova scrambles herself back upright at seven allthough she's breathing very heavily now. Ivanovic just can't wait to lash out at her again, steps in after the command and looks for more damage, but this time her hooks miss the Slovakian's head and the blonde jumps to center of the ring, leaving the Serb chasing her own shadow along the ropes. Ivanovic doesn't hold back anymore, comes forward looking to finish Hantuchova off for good, but the Slovak keeps her guard well until the bell and survives the brunette's attacks.

Round 9:
Ana was breathing heavily during the interval and the cutmen worked on her swollen eye. Despite gaining advantage in the previous round, she looks tired and potentially vulnerable to Hantuchova's late charge. Daniela still completely unmoved in her corner, doesn't look like someone who endured her worst round to date. She doesn't take her eyes off Ivanovic and even the Serb can't understand if she's made any physical let alone mental damage to her. Hantuchova strictly business to start the ninth, weaves around, throws some hooks to the midsection and back away. Ivanovic gets nailed in the jugs and stomach and can't reach the blonde in response. She tries to hassle her around the ropes but misses a big hook to the chest and allows the Slovak to clinch her. After a brief struggle, Daniela laces the brunette in the ribs, Ana winces in pain, the Serbian corner furious over at the other end, they claim that was an illegal punch in the kidneys! Ref waives off those protest and Hantuchova is punishing Ivanovic in the clinch lacing her few more times before shoving her away. Ivanovic looks more hurt now, walking slowly around her rival. Daniela more confident, jabs with more intensity and lands solid single jabs on the brunette's body. Ana awfully slow on her legs inside the last minute, struggling with fitness and relentless jabbing from the Slovak. She finally jumps away to the ropes and circles around in visible discomfort as Hantuchova peppers her from mid-range. Tough round for Ivanovic who looked almost home with the win after knocking Hantuchova down in the eight!

Round 10:
Ivanovic's corner certain of success before the final round. They urge her just to bring the win home across the line. Hantuchova's corner not looking that convinced, wary of the earlier knockdown. Indeed the blonde comes out more aggressively from her stool, jabbing at Ivanovic straight from the bell. Ana looks to jump away into safety but gets laced in the jugs before a big hook from Daniela just grazes her nose. Close call and Ivanovic covers up, but is too slow on her feet compared to the Slovak to stay away from danger for too long. Hantuchova circles around her, closing with every step, peppering from both sides, landing twice as many shot than the brunette who just responds with soft, single jabs. Ana's breath is really quick and shallow now, Daniela in much better shape, jumps up to her and blocks off a big uppercut before catching Ivanovic straight in the mouth with a big jab! Ana's head snaps backwards and she's moaning in pain, as Hantuchova pushes her to the corner and lands another big jab to the boobs! Ivanovic's legs are dead soft, she covers up a quick belly shot from the blonde, but there's yet another quick hook from the left and it lands on the Serbian's cheek. Ana bends forward, loses her footing, tries to clinch but Hantuchova nails her on the forehead and down goes the brunette late in the final round!!! Daniela breaths very heavily as she put all her energy reserves behind that one and Ivanovic's in trouble. She climbs on one knee at five and barely makes it back on her feet at eight. Ref checks her up, she looks pretty bad, the swollen left eye is a particular concern, but it's all OK according to the man in charge! Forty seconds left on the clock and Hantuchova pours in with the latest charge possible, Ivanovic just runs along the ropes, avoiding further punishment but Daniela nails her a couple of times with single jabs anyway. Finally the legs give way on the Serb who bounces off the ropes and straight into the path of oncoming right hook! Daniela rocks her with a monster haymaker in the eye and Ana screams in pain as she's thrown onto the ropes. She immediately covers her wounded eye, but it's a bloody mess. Ivanovic sobbing inside the final ten seconds, stunned by the brutality for the otherwise gentle-looking Slovak. Daniela just stands in the middle of the ring and observes her rival hurting along the ropes. And there's the bell!!! Daniela drops her gloves and walks back to her corner without looking anymore at the brunette, job done, now it's down to the judges. Meanwhile Ivanovic a battered mess, must be helped onto the stool and the cutmen immediately offer an ice pack. The eye is completely shut down and busted up. The Serbian corner doesn't look all that convinced of the final success now, but perhaps the points difference before the tenth was bigger then they thought?

Daniela makes her way back to center of the ring first, still not bothering to look at Ivanovic. The Serb arrives there few moments later still holding the ice pack around the eye. Crowd buzzes in anticipation as it's almost anyone's for the taking..

After ten rounds of boxing we go to the scorecards. Judges score the bout 97-97, 98-96, 97-96 in favor of the winner through majority decision - DANIELA HANTUCHOVA!!!

Post-fight:
Daniela clenches her first as the verdict is announced and offers a hug to the defeated Serbian who looks like someone who wished to be elsewhere right now. Hantchova walks back to her corner and only then she sports a big smile on her face for the first time tonight. Win on a debut is always worth a praise, but Hantuchova was tested to the limits and she'd need a couple of more fights before taking the challenge of Maria Sharapova.

Meanwhile Ana Ivanovic walks back to her corner with head slumped between the shoulder and her corner looks stunned at the verdict. The win was there for the taking, a 10-10 final round would have brought her across the line, but it wasn't to be. Not only Ana's eye, but more importantly her pride was dented by this loss and it remains to be seen what she does next. Word is, Jelena Jankovic is keen to pounce on her Serbian compatriot with national honor at stakes.

Press-conference:
"That was a good win for me", Hantuchova comments, "I suspected her chances will be bigger in a straight-forward punchfest and I tried to avoid it as often as possible. I really made her work her guts out and she still came up short. The final round? It was all on me, but I'm surprised she was ahead on points after nine. Guess some of my skills and techniques weren't recognised in this bout. It's not all about punching the other girl into a mess, but I must say, I really worked her over. Just look at her face and mine! If tells more than the judges scorecards and I'm relieved and happy they made the right choice. One guy called it a draw, hogwash! The headbutt in the fourth? Pure accident!".

"Jankovic?", Ana comments, "Well, that's not out of question. I need to forget about this one as soon as possible. Hantuchova was on the floor and looked beaten until I let her of the hook. She can punch hard, true, but I punched her harder and I still don't know how she managed to get up at eight. My eye looks bad now, but I'l be OK soon. It all started when she headbutted me in the fourth. That was low class. How come the ref failed to punish her for that one, remains a mystery. Perhaps he prefers the blondes... Nevermind... After three years on the sidelines, I'm happy with my performance, I lost yes, but I put up a brave challenge. Now I need to cheer for Hantuchova against Sharapova next year. I've heard they're going after each other after that Indian Wells mess they've had few years back. Should be fun to watch!".

Final result: Daniela Hantuchova def. Ana Ivanovic - Majority Decision (MD10).