Petrova Injures Butt, Agassi Saves the Day at WTA Gold Coast
Posted on January 7, 2005Top-seeded Nadia Petrova was forced to withdraw from her quarterfinal match at Gold Coast Thursday, giving No. 5-seeded Italian Silvia Farina Elia a free ride into the semifinals.
"I'm not disappointed," said Petrova, who strained a butt muscle. "I have two matches under my belt and it's not too bad for just starting the season. The Australian Open is coming up so it's more important for me to stay healthy for the big one."
Left with a block of time to fill, tournament organizers wrangled some exhibition practice between Andre Agassi and Aussie homeboy Scott Draper. Agassi and coach Darren Cahill are in Gold Coast practicing for the Australian Open, utilizing the areas hot and humid practice conditions to prepare the former No. 1 for the brutal Melbourne temperatures.
No. 2 seed Patty "Handshake" Schnyder reached the semis with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 drubbing of precocious Bulgarian teen Sesil "The Mouth" Karatantcheva.
Two unseeded prospects also gained the semis in homegrown talent Sam Stosur (d. (8) Maleeva, coming from a set down) and Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin (d. Flavia "Of Yesterday" Pennetta, coming from a set down).
Friday's semifinals line up as Farina Elia vs. Stosur, and Hot Pants vs. Handshake.
"I'm not disappointed," said Petrova, who strained a butt muscle. "I have two matches under my belt and it's not too bad for just starting the season. The Australian Open is coming up so it's more important for me to stay healthy for the big one."
Left with a block of time to fill, tournament organizers wrangled some exhibition practice between Andre Agassi and Aussie homeboy Scott Draper. Agassi and coach Darren Cahill are in Gold Coast practicing for the Australian Open, utilizing the areas hot and humid practice conditions to prepare the former No. 1 for the brutal Melbourne temperatures.
No. 2 seed Patty "Handshake" Schnyder reached the semis with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 drubbing of precocious Bulgarian teen Sesil "The Mouth" Karatantcheva.
Two unseeded prospects also gained the semis in homegrown talent Sam Stosur (d. (8) Maleeva, coming from a set down) and Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin (d. Flavia "Of Yesterday" Pennetta, coming from a set down).
Friday's semifinals line up as Farina Elia vs. Stosur, and Hot Pants vs. Handshake.