Daniela, Wimbledon's new pin-up

Wimbledon's latest pin-up Daniela Hantuchova is today expected to spend hours training extensively for her second match of the tournament.

For despite the attention that the Slovakian beauty is commanding, she seems determined not to follow in the footsteps of her fallen Russian rival Anna Kournikova.

Friends have revealed that the 19-year-old player - dubbed the Legs from Slovakia - is much keener on practising her strokes or even playing the piano than following the latest fashions or hunting for a boyfriend.

But Hantuchova is also aware of the lack of security in the tennis world and has even thought of other options for her future. As the daughter of computer scientist father and a toxicologist mother, Hantuchova has not ruled out studying at university some day.

One family friend, who did not wish to be named, told the Standard: "She is a very smart and intelligent girl. Even though she has been playing for years now, and training extremely hard, she still managed to go through school and graduate like any other student."

Her parents, grandmother - a former Sixties tennis champion herself - and brother are a source of support and inspiration. They would stand in the four corners of the tennis court to cheer her on during her early matches. The friend added: "She is very mature for her age but there has never been any suggestion that she has had a boyfriend. She is very committed to tennis and loves to play the piano to relax." While Kournikova failed to make it to the second round of the tournament yesterday, Hantuchova sailed through and tomorrow will face fellow Slovakian Martina Sucha.

Describing how she deals with the growing media attention, she said: "The important thing is not to lose my mind and just to work hard every day and just be focused on the tennis."

Her ease with the media is in contrast to Kournikova, who was criticised by former players John Lloyd and Pam Shriver over her petulant behaviour during an interview with the BBC's Garry Richardson after losing to fellow Russian Tatiana Panova.

Upset at the questioning, Kournikova stood up, saying: "Can we try again?" Richardson continued but Kournikova's demeanour did not improve. Shriver said of Kournikova: "Sometimes she turns on the charm for the cameras but those in the women's locker room will know that was the real Anna."

Lloyd said: "She has to grow up and take the good with the bad." Hantuchova, on the other hand, is unlikely to become distracted in pursuit of success. She added: "There's a lot of stuff around me. But, you know, tennis is for me right now the most important thing."