Henin next as Petrova sends out warning
Source: Agencies |
January 25, 2010, Monday
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WHEN the draw for the Australian Open was made, many experts excitedly anticipated a potential matchup between Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin in what was viewed as a Belgian quarter. Few picked Nadia Petrova, the 27-year-old Russian, to reach the quarterfinals.
But a new Nadia Petrova has surfaced at this year's Australian Open, where she produced her second upset victory yesterday to enter the quarterfinals and share the spotlight that usually shines on other Russian players.
Petrova beat French Open champion and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, continuing a surprise run that sent US Open champion Clijsters home after a stunning 0-6, 1-6 defeat in the third round.
Petrova's win made her the first Russian into the quarters, where she was joined by one, with another compatriot also in the picture.
Maria Kirilenko advanced after No. 2 Dinara Safina was forced to retire from their all-Russian match yesterday while No. 9 Vera Zvonareva plays her fourth-round match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus today.
Petrova has equaled her best run at the Australian Open by reaching the last eight. She's never gone further than the semifinals at a major.
She attributes some of her resurgence to the fighting spirit of Russian players.
"There's a lot of competition between us," said the No. 19-seeded Petrova. "There's a lot of us, obviously ... Everyone of us wants to be the No. 1 in our country."
On paper yesterday's match looked close. Petrova had 25 winners compared with Kuznetsova's 22, and 47 unforced errors against Kuznetsova's 55. But Petrova held her nerve, while Kuznetsova let frustration get the best of her.
"I was doing too many unforced errors. I didn't serve good. I was just struggling to find my game," Kuznetsova said. "I lost confidence, I was very frustrated."
"Definitely she's getting confidence and she's playing at her best level that I've seen her at lately," Kuznetsova added. "You have to play well if you beat Kim 6-0, 6-1."
In the quarterfinals, Petrova will have to end the run of another comeback queen and Clijsters' compatriot, Henin.
But a new Nadia Petrova has surfaced at this year's Australian Open, where she produced her second upset victory yesterday to enter the quarterfinals and share the spotlight that usually shines on other Russian players.
Petrova beat French Open champion and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, continuing a surprise run that sent US Open champion Clijsters home after a stunning 0-6, 1-6 defeat in the third round.
Petrova's win made her the first Russian into the quarters, where she was joined by one, with another compatriot also in the picture.
Maria Kirilenko advanced after No. 2 Dinara Safina was forced to retire from their all-Russian match yesterday while No. 9 Vera Zvonareva plays her fourth-round match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus today.
Petrova has equaled her best run at the Australian Open by reaching the last eight. She's never gone further than the semifinals at a major.
She attributes some of her resurgence to the fighting spirit of Russian players.
"There's a lot of competition between us," said the No. 19-seeded Petrova. "There's a lot of us, obviously ... Everyone of us wants to be the No. 1 in our country."
On paper yesterday's match looked close. Petrova had 25 winners compared with Kuznetsova's 22, and 47 unforced errors against Kuznetsova's 55. But Petrova held her nerve, while Kuznetsova let frustration get the best of her.
"I was doing too many unforced errors. I didn't serve good. I was just struggling to find my game," Kuznetsova said. "I lost confidence, I was very frustrated."
"Definitely she's getting confidence and she's playing at her best level that I've seen her at lately," Kuznetsova added. "You have to play well if you beat Kim 6-0, 6-1."
In the quarterfinals, Petrova will have to end the run of another comeback queen and Clijsters' compatriot, Henin.
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