Two Titles in 2 Weeks for Vaidisova at Tokyo
Posted on October 10, 200516-year-old Nicole Vaidisova followed up last week's Seoul title with a win Sunday at the WTA stop in Tokyo, defeating Tatiana Golovin when the French teen was forced to retire leading 7-6(4), 3-2 with an Achilles tendon injury.
"This is my first retirement and hopefully my last because you feel so bad, especially because you just want to keep playing," Golovin said. "It didn't feel that bad this morning and I thought that it would be okay. The last three days, I've been feeling it, but I think the adrenaline keeps you going and you sort of forget about it."
Vaidisova liked her chances, even while trailing by a set when Golovin said she couldn't go on.
"I thought it was a good match," Vaidisova said. "I hope that I would have won anyway, and I think I could have closed it out, but those are just 'maybes.' I thought she was moving really well and got to a lot of balls. I hope that we'll meet again in a final."
Vaidisova will now break into the Top 20 Monday on the WTA Rankings.
"I think I've been playing more steadily this year," Vaidisova said. "Last year, I would have a good week, then a bad one, but I think this year, I've improved my consistency. I know there is a lot to improve, but I'm happy with my progress so far."
In the doubles final played Saturday, No. 2 seeds Maria Kirilenko and Gisela Dulko upset top seeds Shinobu Asagoe and Maria Vento-Kabchi 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 for their first title as a team.
"This is my first retirement and hopefully my last because you feel so bad, especially because you just want to keep playing," Golovin said. "It didn't feel that bad this morning and I thought that it would be okay. The last three days, I've been feeling it, but I think the adrenaline keeps you going and you sort of forget about it."
Vaidisova liked her chances, even while trailing by a set when Golovin said she couldn't go on.
"I thought it was a good match," Vaidisova said. "I hope that I would have won anyway, and I think I could have closed it out, but those are just 'maybes.' I thought she was moving really well and got to a lot of balls. I hope that we'll meet again in a final."
Vaidisova will now break into the Top 20 Monday on the WTA Rankings.
"I think I've been playing more steadily this year," Vaidisova said. "Last year, I would have a good week, then a bad one, but I think this year, I've improved my consistency. I know there is a lot to improve, but I'm happy with my progress so far."
In the doubles final played Saturday, No. 2 seeds Maria Kirilenko and Gisela Dulko upset top seeds Shinobu Asagoe and Maria Vento-Kabchi 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 for their first title as a team.