Peer Bagels Bovina at WTA Moscow
Posted on October 10, 2006MOSCOW, Russia -- Despite the support from her home crowd, Moscow native Elena Bovina's comeback on Monday was anything she hoped for. The 23-year-old fell victim to rising Israeli star Shahar Peer, 60 62, at Moscow Olympic Stadium.
Former Top 20 star Bovina could certainly blame it on lack of match experience, as this was her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour match in more than a year. After suffering a right shoulder injury last summer, she didn't compete in any Tour events until Monday. The year before the injury, 2004, marks Bovina's best season to date. She captured her biggest title at New Haven and made the semifinals here, defeating Venus Williams en route.
No.8 seed Nicole Vaidisova smacked four aces against Russian wild card Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a 63 63 victory. The Czech teenager, who became the 12th youngest player in Tour history to crack the Top 10 this summer, will next play either qualifier Emmanuelle Gagliardi or Samantha Stosur.
In a draw with 15 Russians, a record for all Tier I events, an all-Russian match-up in the first round was no surprise. Vera Zvonareva prevailed against wild card Vera Dushevina, 63 62, and will next face another compatriot, No.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Russian veteran Elena Likhovtseva, who beat Maria Elena Camerin, 60 61, could also face a countrywoman in the second round if No.5 seed Nadia Petrova eliminates Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
Ekaterina Bychkova, Anastassia Rodionova, Gagliardi and Iveta Benesova won their qualifying matches on Monday. On Tuesday, No.7 seed Dinara Safina and Francesca Schiavone will play on centre court.
-- WTA
Former Top 20 star Bovina could certainly blame it on lack of match experience, as this was her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour match in more than a year. After suffering a right shoulder injury last summer, she didn't compete in any Tour events until Monday. The year before the injury, 2004, marks Bovina's best season to date. She captured her biggest title at New Haven and made the semifinals here, defeating Venus Williams en route.
No.8 seed Nicole Vaidisova smacked four aces against Russian wild card Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a 63 63 victory. The Czech teenager, who became the 12th youngest player in Tour history to crack the Top 10 this summer, will next play either qualifier Emmanuelle Gagliardi or Samantha Stosur.
In a draw with 15 Russians, a record for all Tier I events, an all-Russian match-up in the first round was no surprise. Vera Zvonareva prevailed against wild card Vera Dushevina, 63 62, and will next face another compatriot, No.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Russian veteran Elena Likhovtseva, who beat Maria Elena Camerin, 60 61, could also face a countrywoman in the second round if No.5 seed Nadia Petrova eliminates Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
Ekaterina Bychkova, Anastassia Rodionova, Gagliardi and Iveta Benesova won their qualifying matches on Monday. On Tuesday, No.7 seed Dinara Safina and Francesca Schiavone will play on centre court.
-- WTA