St. Petersburg: Shot Of The Day (Tuesday)
Yanina Wickmayer had Tuesday’s shot of the day at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Yanina Wickmayer had Tuesday’s shot of the day at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
The St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy debuts on the WTA calendar following an Australian Open that featured impressive performances from a trio of talented young Russians. Among them, Margarita Gasparyan reached her first major second week, while former French Open junior champion Daria Kasatkina made a second straight Grand Slam third round. Each fell to World No.1 Serena Williams; each will be on hand to play her home tournament.
On the outside looking in is another Russian Roland Garros junior champ – off the court for the last two years with a torn labral, but one who knows a thing or two about playing the 21-time Grand Slam champion on Rod Laver Arena.
Former World No.3 Nadia Petrova played a pair of must-watch Melbourne matches against the American in the mid-00s – the last coming in 2007, when Williams was ranked No.81.
“I remember that match,” Petrova told WTA Insider last fall. “I was two points away from winning, serving for it. But in this critical situation, she came up with some amazing shots and I was pushed back to the wall. I tried everything and she would come up with something even better.”
The Muscovite later got her revenge in Beijing and Madrid, becoming one of the few players to earn back-to-back wins over the World No.1.
“I always enjoyed our matches; every time I stepped on the court against her, I was never intimidated. I knew what I had to do in order to win, or at least play a good match.”
A prominent part of Russia’s golden generation – one that includes Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Anastasia Myskina, Olympic Gold medalist Elena Dementieva, and World No.1 Dinara Safina – Petrova has been trying to heal an injury she first picked up during the 2013 French Open – ten years after she became the first Russian woman since Olga Morozova in 1975 to reach the semifinals on the terre battue.
“It was very cold that year,” she said of her first round loss to Monica Puig. “I thought my muscles were just overworked. The doctors and physios said that I needed a good break and I would be fine for the grass court season.
“I followed that advice, but when I returned to court, it got worse, to the point that I struggled through my first round at Wimbledon. It was a little bit easier in doubles, but I had to do more medical research and see some other specialists.”
Despite managing to qualify for a sixth overall WTA Finals appearance with Katarina Srebotnik, the 37-time WTA titlist (13 singles, 24 doubles) soon made the decision to stop playing altogether in the hopes of fully healing her hip before launching a return.
“I’d rather be playing tournaments, going from one place to another. I miss all the emotions, the excitement of a win or a loss. That part of me is missing right now, but unfortunately my hip has been still giving me a hard time.”
No stranger to long lay-offs, a then-19-year-old Petrova was poised for a breakout 2002 season when a stress fracture stunted her progress for six months.
“That was a reality check, and a big test for me,” she said of her first major injury. “I’d had a great off-season, and I started really well in my first event, almost beating Venus Williams. I was a Top 30 player for the first time, but right before the Australian Open, I had to pull out because of my foot.
“It was hard seeing the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon just go by. All that was left was to just see it on TV. My ranking dropped out of Top 100, and it was the first time that I had to start from the scratch. But I managed, and I’m sure that made me a stronger and better player.”
Rehabbing a labral tear presently remains the biggest test for the now-33-year-old Russian, who refuses to make any immediate decisions about her future.
“I’ll feel like I’m making improvements, but as soon as I start loading my body with practicing and playing, it starts showing signs of breaking down again. I think it’s from the years that I’ve been on tour, the wear and tear.”
For a woman on the move for most of her life, 24 months at a standstill has been a “mixture of emotions” for the two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, who has spent the time finishing the renovations on her Miami home, giving back through her eponymous foundation, and otherwise enjoying a normal life with her dog.
“It does feel good to be in one place. It’s nice to wake up in your own bed every morning, but after doing it for so many years, you get used to the traveling. Sometimes I do miss getting on a plane and going somewhere, the change of surroundings. I’m getting a bit tired of being in one place.”
The daughter of elite athletes – her mother was an Olympic bronze medalist in the 4×400 meter relay – Petrova began playing tennis at eight years old; she left Moscow at 12 as her parents pursued coaching opportunities in Egypt and Poland.
As a teenager, she relocated to the Netherlands to work with coach Glen Schaap (who later worked with Safina and junior rival Jelena Dokic), but admitted it was hard to ever feel at home in any one place.
“I really didn’t get attached to people. Of course, you make friends, but it’s not like ones you grow up and go to school with, and you create a strong bond. It’s hard to leave those kinds of people behind, but I didn’t really have that.
“I do have a lot of friends in all these places that I still keep in touch with, and I did enjoy traveling. I was a teenager that really liked exploring new places, getting to know new cultures, cuisines. For me, it was fascinating.”
Some of her strongest bonds were forged during her brief tenure on the junior circuit, where she upset Dokic for the 1998 junior title in Paris.
“We were competing against each other but we still were into socializing and hanging out. We would always do something fun after the tennis was over. It was a lot of good quality time.
“Transitioning from juniors to pros, we kept close, tried to support each other, show up at each other’s matches. But it was an emotional rollercoaster because there’s a big gap in level. Everyone is older, more experienced, and a lot stronger.
“It was a difficult moment and, of course, when you are a brand new player on the tour, it’s not like everyone is warm and welcoming. You have to earn your spot among the players, and prove yourself with good wins.”
Former No.1 Tracy Austin once remarked, “Every time Petrova gets up a head of steam, she gets injured.” Indeed, physical issues of varying severity likely kept the Russian, with her big serve and booming all-court game, from realizing her potential in an era that boasted both Williams sisters, Belgians Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, Americans Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati, Swiss Miss Martina Hingis, French star Amélie Mauresmo – and, of course, all of her countrywomen.
“It’s just genetically how my body is built and how it handles all the sudden movements in a match. A lot of leg injuries and muscle strains I had came from my lower back and my pelvis being out of alignment. It took me a while to understand that, to start taking proper care of my body.
“I’m also not that kind of a player where, if I’m out for two-three months, I can pick up where I left off. It would take me a while to get back into everything – the tournaments and months of practice – to that same level where I could feel and see the game, to feel confident on the court again.”
When it came together, she was almost unstoppable. She won her own Olympic Bronze medal in women’s doubles with Maria Kirilenko and titles on all surfaces in her 15 years on tour. She defeated 16 of her generation’s 18 Grand Slam champions, and 13 of the 14 women who had been or went on to be World No.1.
She is one of only ten women to beat both Williams sisters – winners of a combined 45 Grand Slam titles – in singles and doubles, and handed former No.1 Kim Clijsters the most lop-sided loss of her career, a 6-0, 6-1 clinic at the 2010 Australian Open that Petrova calls her “perfect match.”
Her first breakthrough came in 2003; ranked No.76, she roared into the final four of the French Open, repeating the run two years later.
“After the foot injury in 2002, I had no expectations. I knew my draw was difficult, but I had an amazing first round over Monica Seles and followed it up with the win over Capriati.
“I remember even having set point against Clijsters in the semifinals but I was having a bit of pain in my leg. After losing that set point, I was really not able to regain that level.
“But that really was a big turning point for me in my career.”
A player for whom potential often outpaced progress, Petrova was the best player not to have won a WTA title for two years, falling in her first four finals before coming full circle at the Generali Ladies Linz.
“A few times, I felt like I had bad luck because I was so close. Other times, I’d get into my head when I was close to winning, and I couldn’t finish it off because of the nerves. I was over-thinking it too much.
“I have such good memories of Linz because it was a lot of firsts for me. It was my first doubles title, and my first singles title, as well. It was almost like a home tournament, and everything was organized very well. I liked the city, and the extra things that they would do for the players. They went out of the way to make it a nice tournament. After the first win there, everything got a lot easier.”
For a while, it was effortless. She paired up with longtime friend Tomasz Iwanski in early 2006 and won her next four finals, heading into the French Open as the best player without a major title, at a career-high ranking with a 15-match winning streak on clay.
“I was feeling very confident; it was the first time I saw winning a Grand Slam as a possibility. I started to believe, but unfortunately, it was very sad, some silly injury. I felt my dreams were shattered, or at least that kind of belief and confidence.”
Straining her upper leg in practice, she fought through a losing first round battle against Akiko Morigami, a missed opportunity from which Petrova believes she never recovered.
“I did regain a certain level of play, but I don’t think I ever came close to that mental state in my career where I felt like I was able to make that extra step.
“For me, it was about the results, winning a lot of matches and just keeping the momentum.”
Petrova separated from Iwanski soon after, leading to a string of coaching arrangements – including one with Vlado Platenik, who currently coaches Kastkina – that yielded an array of highs and lows.
“Honestly, I wish I had one coach from the beginning to the end of my career, having established a strong relationship. I know I’m not also an easy person on the court; I’m a perfectionist, and I have my demands.
“But I also feel like many coaches stop giving 100% after a while. I’m a person who wants 100% from a coach every day, at every tournament.
“It’s the same amount I’m asking from myself when I’m on the court.”
Taking that 100% and putting it toward a more philanthropic bend has been the most rewarding part of her time away from tour. The Nadia Petrova Foundation works with underprivileged children by raising funds and organizing clinics that teach them a game that already gave the Russian so much.
“It gave me such a great opportunity to travel the world, to experience different cultures and cuisines, to get to know a lot of wonderful people. Hopefully, when I was playing my best, I was able to inspire some kids with my game. I was able to give back to the community through all the charity work that I did on my own and together with the WTA.”
A natural athlete and experienced competitor, the two-time Olympian can’t help but sometimes wonder, “what if?” But whether or not she returns to tennis, Nadia Petrova ultimately appears at peace.
“I do think, maybe I was starting now, things would have been different for me; getting to a Grand Slam win or get to the top of the rankings, I believe, was a lot harder then. Every week there was Serena, Venus, and Davenport and Capriati, Justine, Kim, and Mauresmo. It was a tough competition.
“The generation when I played, the Top 10 was just packed with huge names. Many ended up winning Slams and carried on such great careers that the majority of them will be in the Tennis Hall of Fame.
“I am very honored and proud that I was also playing during this kind of time.”
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Klara Koukalova in the first round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams has hardly taken a vacation after making a run to her seventh Australian Open final. Following a three-set defeat to Angelique Kerber, Williams joined Billie Jean King and Condoleezza Rice at last weekend’s NFL Women’s Summit.
Speaking with Robin Roberts, the American spoke of the pressure of being one of the top female athletes in the world, but ultimate how she hoped to use her influence to impact the greater good.
“I don’t play tennis for recognition; being recognized is not important,” she said. “What matters is how I can help people.”
True to her word, Williams is helping people in a big way this week, flying down to Jamaica to help build the Salt Marsh Primary School. With the aid of Helping Hands Jamaica and her own foundation, the World No.1got her hands dirty along with volunteers, proving that “with great power indeed comes great responsibility” – to borrow a Spiderman reference Williams herself used in her conversation with Roberts.
Enjoyable work. Serena Williams Fund's 3rd school- this time we partnered with Helping Hands Jamaica to build the Salt Marsh Primary School #swf #education
Posted by Serena Williams on Monday, February 8, 2016
Monica Niculescu takes on Natalia Vikhlyantseva in the first round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
A new event on the calendar, the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy was welcomed to the WTA family by WTA Supervisor Tony Cho, No.18 Caroline Wozniacki and WTA Board Member and tournament director Peter-Michael Reichel.
Caroline Wozniacki, who took a late wildcard into the Premier event, gave the tournament and staff a thank you speech on behalf of WTA players.
No.4 seed Ana Ivanovic is one of four Top 20 players in the draw.
The player party was held at the Four Seasons in St. Petersburg’s Saint Isaac’s Square and featured a fashion show…
… and some pretty avant-garde styles!
Ana Ivanovic stopped for a picture with general director Alexander Medvedev and tournament director Natalia Kamelzon.
As the party went on, the best of Russian hospitality – including fancy dance moves – was on full display.
Speaking of hospitality, all players at the party were given gift bags, including Caroline Wozniacki…
… as well as No.1 doubles team Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza.
Moscow’s Kremlin Cup tournament director Aleksei Selivanenko (middle) flew in for a visit, pictured here with Ivanovic, Wozniacki and Medvedev.
Belinda Bencic has all the more reason to party – this is the first time in her career she’s seeded No.1 at a WTA tournament.
Russia’s Elena Vesnina took a wildcard into the new tournament.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Playing in her home country, No.5 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won a thrilling first round encounter with qualifier and former Top 20 player, Klara Koukalova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Down 0-3 to start the match, the 24-year-old won six of the next seven games to take the opening set, but it came down to the wire against the Czech veteran, who had beaten her in their last two meetings.
“She started really well; actually she played really good the whole match,” the Russian said in her on-court interview. “She played three matches in qualifying, so I think that was the key for her. I had a really slow start and didn’t feel in good shape, but the only thing I did was fight.
A new event on the WTA calendar, Pavlyuchenkova was impressed by some of the in-match entertainment, including an intricate light show to announce the players.
“That was amazing. Maybe that’s why I had a slow start,” she said with a laugh. “I was still thinking and looking around.
“The crowd was amazing, as well. I love playing at home. It’s Russia!”
The Russian was equally effusive in her praise of the event before main draw action began at the gala dinner.
“It’s good for Russian tennis and great for Russian fans to have another WTA tournament in this country. St Petersburg is a beautiful backdrop for this event. I’m very happy to be here and proud to welcome players from all over the world to my home country.”
Clocking in at just over two hours, Pavlyuchenkova booked a spot in the second round, where she’ll play German youngster, Carina Witthoeft.
“I’m really old already, 24! But it’s not about age. I think she’s good. She’s fresh, and didn’t have a bad start to the year. I have to be really focused and play a lot better than today.”
Earlier in the day, Witthoeft had dispatched qualifier and former World No.26 Tamira Paszek, 6-3, 6-3. Fellow qualifier Kateryna Kozlova had better luck, upsetting Fed Cup heroine Barbora Strycova, 6-3, 6-4. No.9 seed Monica Niculescu had few problems taking out local wildcard Natlia Vikhlyantseva, 6-0, 6-3, and Yanina Wickmayer set up a second round with No.2 seed Roberta Vinci when she beat Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4, 6-3.
Rising Russian starlet Margarita Gasparyan played the final match of the night in St. Petersburg, dismissing Bojana Jovanovski, 6-1, 6-2.
SALT LAKE CITY, USA – Climbing to the summit of women’s tennis is no easy matter. Staying there, though, is arguably even more challenging.
No stone is left unturned in the quest for the slightest competitive edge. Therefore, it is no surprise that many players are paying increasing attention the nutritional side of their preparation.
Kristina Mladenovic and Alizé Cornet are two players famed almost as much for their exceptional physical conditioning as for their technical brilliance, and on Tuesday were unveiled as the latest big names to trust their health to USANA Health Sciences.
The two Frenchwomen join USANA’s 700-plus stable of athletes who back their performances with the global nutritional company’s NSF-tested products, including fellow WTA stars Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Madison Keys, Samantha Stosur, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig and Zheng Saisai.
Currently the highest-ranked French player in both singles and doubles, Mladenovic is one of the brightest young talents on tour. Still just 22, Mladenovic already has one WTA title in singles and a further 12 in doubles, as well as two Grand Slam mixed doubles crowns alongside Canada’s Daniel Nestor.
“I’m excited to be part of Team USANA,” Mladenovic said. “I have been using USANA vitamins and supplements for a few years and have seen the difference that it has made in my health and fitness. As one of USANA’s Ambassadors, I’m looking forward to sharing my positive experience with others and letting them know what USANA can do for them.”
Heading into her 10th year on tour, Cornet recently captured her fifth WTA singles title, at the Hobart International, taking down fellow USANA Brand Ambassador Eugenie Bouchard in the final. The former World No.11 has reached the last 16 at three of the four majors and also holds three wins over Serena Williams.
“USANA vitamins and supplements have been an important part of my nutrition routine for years,” Cornet said. “I believe in USANA products and I am thrilled to be an Ambassador.”
USANA has been the Official Health Supplement Supplier of the WTA since 2006 and continues to provide its high-quality, NSF-tested nutritional products to more than 170 WTA athletes, including 15 athletes in the WTA Top 20, and eight of the Top 10.
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Elizaveta Kulichkova showed why she was one to watch at the Taiwan Open, fighting her way out of a dangerous deficit to advance past Taiwanese wildcard Ya-Hsuan Lee, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Named by WTA Insider as part of Russia’s “Generation Next,” Kulichkova entered the tournament following some of the best results of her young career: at the Australian Open, she reached the 3rd round of a Grand Slam for the first time, dealing No.25 Andrea Petkovic an upset along the way.
In Kaohsiung, Kulichkova found herself in big trouble against Lee – the Russian dropped the first set and was actually down 0-3 in the second – before she found a way to play herself into the match.
“I didn’t play my best today so I didn’t feel so comfortable on court,” Kulichkova told wtatennis.com after her win.
“I just try to concentrate on my game, keep bringing back all the balls, and then I could come back eventually.”
Also coming back to advance into the second round is Donna Vekic, who notched her first WTA-level win of the year against Alison Riske in a seesaw match, 4-6, 7-5(5), 6-3.
The Croatian found herself four points away from defeat in the second set; Riske was serving for the match at 6-4, 6-5, before Vekic broke her serve at love to force a tiebreak before grabbing the set. Vekic hit nine aces to Riske’s 12 double faults in the two hour and forty minute-encounter.
The win was a boon for Vekic, who is now working with new coach David Felgate. The pair reunited before last month’s Australian Open after splitting in 2014.
Local favorite Su-Wei Hsieh survived a mid-match surge from Japan’s Ayama Okuno but advanced 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-2. Yulia Putintseva, Zarina Diyas, Saisai Zheng and Kurumi Nara are all through to the second round while Naomi Osaka – who was looking to follow up her incredible Australian Open run – fell to Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella in straight sets.
No.1 seed Venus Williams will wrap up the Taiwan Open’s first round action when she takes the court against Taiwanese wildcard Pei-Chi Lee tomorrow.
Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Yanina Wickmayer takes on Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.