the best US Open Series, winning only one match in four tournaments. At the Rogers Cup Hantuchová, lost in two tough sets to Aleksandra Wozniak. At the Western & Southern Open, Hantuchová beat Zheng Jie in the first round, but lost to seventh seed Sara Errani in straight sets. Hantuchová lost in the first round of the New Haven Open to Mona Barthel. At the US Open, she lost to 17th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets. At the Pan Pacific Open, Hantuchová beat Ekaterina Makarova in the first round, but then lost to tenth seed Caroline Wozniacki. Hantuchová lost in the first round of the China Open to seventh seed, Petra Kvitová. She lost to fifth seed Julia Görges in straight sets at the Generali Ladies Linz. Hantuchová recorded her best result in months at the Luxembourg Open, where she made it to the semifinals. She lost to Monica Niculescu in straight sets. Hantuchová finished her year with three straight losses at the Tournament of Champions to Wozniacki, Roberta Vinci, and Hsieh Su-wei. On reflection, Hantuchová said that 2012 was a difficult year for her. She struggled with niggling injuries even before she fractured her foot and was forced out for two months. As a result, her form was inconsistent and she suffered ten first-round defeats. She said: "I think 2012 has been a difficult year for me. Had a great start to the season, making the final in Brisbane, winning in Pattaya and feeling very good about my game, but unfortunately, suffered a fracture stress... that kept me away from the tracks for two months." However, she said that playing in the Olympics at Wimbledon, where she reached the third round, was a "special moment". In an interview at the end of the year, Hantuchová reflected on turning 30 the following April, saying that it was "just a number" and that she wanted to keep playing as long as possible and break back into the top 10. 2013: Sixth WTA title, second US Open quarterfinal and return to the top 50 Hantuchová started her year off in January with a quarterfinal appearance at the Brisbane International, beating Lourdes Domínguez Lino and fifth seed Sara Errani, before losing to Lesia Tsurenko. She then suffered two successive first-round defeats: at the Sydney International to Ayumi Morita and at the Australian Open to Chan Yung-jan. At the Pattaya Open at the