Sussex coach Nigel Sears has tipped the teenager responsible for ending Martina Navratilova's fairytale comeback as a future world No. 1.

Slovak prospect Daniela Hantuchova sent Navratilova back into singles retirement at Eastbourne yesterday with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory in round two of the Britannic Asset Management Championships.

Lewes-based Sears has been coaching Hantuchova for just over a year after splitting with South African Amanda Coetzer.

The lanky 19-year-old won her first tour title at Indian Wells in March, beating Martina Hingis in the final, and she has continued to soar up the rankings under Sears' shrewd guidance.

"IGM asked me if I was interested in coaching her," he explained.

"I watched her play Mauresmo in Rome and thought she had stacks of ability and a great future.

"We got together on a trial basis at Birmingham last year and that went well. From there we extended it and signed a longer term contract.

"I think she can go all the way, I really do. A year ago she was ranked 80. She is 13 this week and she has the potential to be No.1 in the world and to win a Grand Slam.

"I'm not saying it will be next week (at Wimbledon), but she is a really ambitious young lady. She wants it and she is prepared to make the sacrifices that takes.

"Tennis is clearly the No.1 thing in her life. You need that kind of desire and ambition if you are ever going to fulfill your maximum potential.

"She is certainly the best material I've ever worked with and I'm enjoying every bit of it."

Sears believes the elegant Hantuchova can follow in Navratilova's footsteps by thriving on grass.

"She has a good game for grass," he said. "We are still working on her volleys, but she has a lot of ability and adapts very quickly to new things.

"She serves very well and has a particularly good second serve, which is so important on grass."

Ironically, that was the department of the game which let Hantuchova down most in a nervous first set.

When she was broken to love after consecutive double faults to trail 2-1 at the start of the second set, Navratilova seemed on course for a remarkable victory.

From that point on Hantuchova found her long-legged stride and her range to turn the contest on its head.

An enthusiastic centre court crowd were willing Navratilova to mount an improbable recovery and she saved four match points, but after 1hr and 34 mins her time ran out.

"My serve was never cooking," said Navratilova. "She started returning really well and if I didn't get my first serve in I was in trouble.

"Also she started serving a lot better and clicking on all cylinders."

Navratilova is Hantuchova's mentor on tour, but yesterday the youngster was her tormentor.

"She's got a chance this week," predicted the 11-time Eastbourne champion.

"Next week? Grand Slams are a different ball game. You have got to beat a whole bunch of top ten players in a row.

"I said last year when she lost at Wimbledon to Venus Williams she would be in the top 20 by this time and she is.

"She can beat anybody on a given day. She toyed with Martina Hingis earlier this year."

Navratilova, making her singles comeback at the age of 45 after an eight-year absence, insists it really is the end this time.

"I think I showed I can stay with these girls," she said. "On a regular basis I don't want that. I've had a great life and this was just a bonus."

As for Hantuchova, she has a whole career ahead of her and is bound to benefit from coming through such a test of character with flying colours.

"It was very special to play such a legend and I'm very happy that I got through this match mentally," she said.

"It was very tough not to think about who was on the other side of the court.

"I have never been so nervous. Never in my dreams did I think I would one day play Martina."