Refreshed Mandlikova Comes Back : After Taking 6 Months Away From the Game, She Returns to Courts

After a decade of traveling the world on the women’s professional tennis tour, Hana Mandlikova reached her break point last summer.

She took the rest of the year off after competing at Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam event she has not won.

“The first half of last year was the worst 6 months I’ve ever had playing tennis,” she said after her successful return last week in the first round of the New South Wales Championships at Sydney, Australia. She advanced with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 victory over Jo Durie.

“I was not happy on the circuit, not happy traveling . . . and that is not the right attitude.”

The half-year hiatus behind her, Mandlikova returned to the courts with a new zest.

In the tuneup tournament for this week’s Grand Slam event--the Australian Open--Mandlikova was eliminated in the semifinals by Martina Navratilova, 6-3, 6-2.

“I’m glad to be back,” said Mandlikova, ranked 20th. “I always knew I was going to come back and play tennis despite the German press saying I would never play again.”

Mandlikova, 27, a Czech-born Australian who lives in Antwerp, Belgium, said the time off did wonders.

Besides purchasing a home in Belgium, she lounged on her boat in Monte Carlo, where she concentrated on writing an autobiography.

“I have to say it was great not playing,” she said. “I suddenly realized there is something else than tennis.”

Refreshed, Mandlikova is inspired to reach her goal of winning every Grand Slam event at least once before retiring. She has won the Australian, where she is playing this week, the French and U.S. Open.

“I would love to win Wimbledon--that is my biggest aim,” she said.

To gain an edge toward that goal, Mandlikova has enlisted the coaching of Mike Estep, who is best known for guiding Navratilova.

“I really like working with Mike so far,” she said. “We work very hard but I am used to it.”