The TENNISREPORTERS.NET Newsletter: FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, NO. 62

Nadia Petrova: Williamses not match tough enough to dominate
Belgians won't waltz into Aussie Open final; Sharapova no lock to be best Russian; Top 10 in her immediate future

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Nadia Petrova is planning on spending next week at the beach, but unless she wins the Uncle Toby's Hardcourt title on Australia's Gold Coast this weekend, she'll head to Canberra for another Aussie Open warm-up.

The tall and powerful all-courter is the tournament's second seed behind Ai Sugiyama and was scheduled to face France's Nathalie Dechy in the semis on Friday.

The Gold Coast brings back strong memories for determined Petrova. In 2002, she upset Meghann Shaughnessy and Silvia Farina-Elia en route to semis but was forced to retire against Venus Williams trailing 7-6 (1), 6-5 due to a right pectoral strain. It would be her last tournament until the '02 US Open, as shortly after, she injured her left foot.

This year, the cool ocean breezes are calling her red-hot name.

"That's the deal I made with my coach (Glen Schaap) and I really want relax on the beach for a week," the No. 12 -ranked Russian told tennisreporters.net after her 6-1, 6-4 stomping of compatriot Dinara Safina. "Winning this title is a big goal. I've been playing really well and I think I can do it."

Petrova also wouldn't be surprised if she went deep at the Aussie Open, which begins in just 10 days. She believes the field is wide open and she's playing with tremendous confidence. The '03 Roland Garros semifinalist says she is charging the net more and feels as healthy as she's ever been.

"I won't put pressure on myself, but I think I have a chance to at least reach the semifinals," the 21-year-old said. "I'm very confident. I wouldn't be surprised if I won, but it will be tough."

SEES NEW BLOOD IN AUSSIE FINALS
Outspoken and extremely driven, Petrova doesn't think that Serena and Venus Williams are locks to reach the final. In fact, the hard-nosed daughter of an Olympic medallist (her mother, Nadejda Ilina, won the bronze at the Montreal Olympics in the 400 relay), Petrova doesn't believe that Belgians are sure things, either.

"It will be very hard for one of the Williams to win the tournament," said Petrova. "They haven't played for six months and I remember coming back after nine months off. Even though I was in good shape and hitting the ball well, it was hard to win matches. When you haven't been playing, you forget how to win a little. They aren't match tough and that's very important. It doesn't come back automatically. The mental part is difficult."

With Kim Clijsters nursing an ankle injury and Justine Henin-Hardenne coming off a long and arduous 2003, Petrova wouldn't take a bow to the world's top-ranked players.

WTA

"It's very difficult to pick a favorite," she said. "I won't say Justine will definitely win, but I will says the Belgians should reach the semis. I also think Amelie Mauresmo has a very good chance to win it. She's been playing great."

Given the dearth of talent from Russia 10 years ago, it's remarkable that there are seven Russian women in the top 35: No. 7 Anastasia Myskina, No. 8 Elena Dementieva, No. 12 Petrova, No. 13 Vera Zvonareva, No. 21 Elena Bovina, No. 27 Lina Krasnoroutskaya and No. 32 Maria Sharapova.

SOPH0MORE SHARAPOVA NOT LOCK
It's the 16-year-old Sharapova who's the most talked about Russian. The Sonic Shrieker won two titles in her rookie year and made a huge splash at Wimbledon, reaching the quarters.

But Petrova doesn't think that Sharapova (who incidentally beat her in LA last year) is a lock to be end this year as the highest ranked Russian, nor that she will definitively be her nation's best player.

"Maria's still young and learning," she said. "She's talented and explosive, but she has to defend her points this year. Your second year is very different. She has the potential, but there are so many factors that you have to deal with that have nothing to do with talent."

Petrova doesn't even think a Russian will win a Slam title this year, even though given their ages, she and 20-somethings Myskina, Dementieva and Bovina should be peaking.

"We're still too young and don't have enough experience," she said. "Maybe next year one of us will do it. But this year will really tell who is for real."

Because of a bad case of food poisoning, Petrova was unable to play singles in Russia's semifinal loss to France in Fed Cup in November. She was hugely disappointed, as were her teammates, who were hoping to win at home in Moscow. Her friend Zvonareva lost both her matches – to Amelie Mauresmo and to Mary Pierce.

MAURESMO LOOKS STRONG
"Amelie played great, but Vera had her chances against Mary," Petrova said. "Vera tried her best. I think I could have done well and it was hard to watch."

Petrova broke through in a significant way last year at Roland Garros, taking out former world No. 1s Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati as well as Zvonareva, before being straight-setted by Clijsters in the semis.

Venus took her out at Wimbledon and she gave Henin-Hardenne tussles in losses at San Diego and Montreal. At the US Open, she reached the fourth round and fell in a very winnable three-setter to Lindsay Davenport. Petrova also reached the semis of Zurich and the final of Linz where she lost top none other than Sugiyama, losing her last real chance to qualify for the WTA Championships, where she was the first alternate.
Petrova's main goal this year is end the season in the Top 10, a feat she hasn't accomplished yet. Winning her first singles title would also be a major bonus.

"I had my best results last year and was pretty happy," she said. "This year I need to stay fit and injury free and the results should come. My ground strokes need to get a little better and I'm always working on things, but my game's in pretty good shape."