Petrova, Chaky All-Russian Final at Moscow
Posted on October 15, 2006MOSCOW, Russia -- Not only did the Russian contingent dominate the Kremlin Cup draw in quantity, but in quality as well; on Saturday, two of the 15 Russians that started the week prevailed in three set semifinals to reach the final in front of their adoring home crowd.
Nadia Petrova was the first to advance, holding her nerve late in the match for a 60 46 76(3) victory over Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova. Petrova, seeded No.5, stormed through the first three games of the match, then won a marathon 24-point fourth game to break Vaidisova's serve and spirit, going on to take the set at love. Things were not over for the No.8-seeded Vaidisova, however, as she raced out to her own lead in the second set, building 5-1 and evening things up at a set apiece four games later.
Both players brought their best out in the third set. With the exception of one pair of breaks early on the two showcased their impressive serving skills throughout. The more experienced Petrova was the first to reach match point, in fact she held six of them with Vaidisova serving 4-5, but the phenom erased them all, a sight reminiscent of her clutch quarterfinal win over Amelie Mauresmo. But in the end, the Russian was just too clean with her numbers, easing through the tie-break.
"We were both getting a little tight at the end," Petrova said. "It was a matter of who could keep the ball in. After I had those match points I told myself I'm still in with a very good chance to win; my experience helped me through in the end."
"I certainly didn't think I had the match won after I saved all those match points," said Vaidisova, who saved three match points in her aforementioned quarterfinal. "There was still a lot of work to be done. Nadia played better than me when it mattered. My serve worked well most of the match, but wasn't good enough."
Petrova is now 2-1 lifetime against Vaidisova. She won a tight two-setter at the US Open last year, which ended controversially when the Czech teenager lost her temper upon losing and was subsequently booed off the court; but a few weeks later it was she who prevailed, edging Petrova in three sets for the Bangkok title.
Awaiting Petrova in the final will be Anna Chakvetadze, who won an all-Russian match with Elena Dementieva, 75 36 60. The unseeded teen struggled with her left shoulder early on, even getting medical treatment after three games, but she still managed to win the first set. The No.4-seeded Dementieva won the second but appeared to have used up all her energy and Chakvetadze pounced, losing a total of six points in polishing off her fifth career Top 10 victory and reaching her first Tier I final.
"I still can't believe I'm in the final of the Kremlin Cup," Chakvetadze said. "For Russian players this is a very important tournament, and I'm so happy to be just one match from possibly winning the title."
"I was too tired in the end and couldn't bring my best tennis to the court today," Dementieva said. "I had two very tough matches this week and was trying very hard to be fully fit after I had some trouble with my leg last week but in the third set she was simply fresher than me."
Chakvetadze had already taken out four Top 10 players prior to Saturday's win, but this is the first time in her career she has done it twice in one week. In the opening round here, she ousted new world No.10 Dinara Safina in straight sets.
A lot on the line in Sunday's final; Chakvetadze leads series, 2-0
For both players, winning the Kremlin Cup would be one of their greatest honors. Although Petrova has already won six Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles (five in 2006) and a pair of Tier Is (Charleston and Berlin, both this past spring), she hasn't won on home soil yet; and for Chakvetadze it would be her first Tier I title, having won her first title two weeks ago at the Tier III event in Guangzhou.
But for Petrova, not only is there a title within reach, there is also a chance for vengeance. Between her stellar clay court season and her equally-impressive indoor season thus far, Petrova went through a hip injury-induced summer slump, the lowest points coming during the summer hardcourt season leading up to the US Open, where she failed to win a match in four tournaments. Two of those losses came to Chakvetadze.
Petrova was upended by her young countrywoman in her opening match at San Diego, 63 67(5) 62, as well as in her first match in Montreal, 61 64. But things seem a lot different for the 24-year-old Muscovite since hitting the indoor courts of Stuttgart last week, where she won her fifth title of the year.
"It's a dream to be playing the Kremlin Cup final," Petrova declared. "I really hope I can bring my best tennis to the court tomorrow."
"I've been playing very well all week," Chakvetadze said of her Kremlin Cup run, "so hopefully I can keep it going for just one more day."
-- WTA
Nadia Petrova was the first to advance, holding her nerve late in the match for a 60 46 76(3) victory over Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova. Petrova, seeded No.5, stormed through the first three games of the match, then won a marathon 24-point fourth game to break Vaidisova's serve and spirit, going on to take the set at love. Things were not over for the No.8-seeded Vaidisova, however, as she raced out to her own lead in the second set, building 5-1 and evening things up at a set apiece four games later.
Both players brought their best out in the third set. With the exception of one pair of breaks early on the two showcased their impressive serving skills throughout. The more experienced Petrova was the first to reach match point, in fact she held six of them with Vaidisova serving 4-5, but the phenom erased them all, a sight reminiscent of her clutch quarterfinal win over Amelie Mauresmo. But in the end, the Russian was just too clean with her numbers, easing through the tie-break.
"We were both getting a little tight at the end," Petrova said. "It was a matter of who could keep the ball in. After I had those match points I told myself I'm still in with a very good chance to win; my experience helped me through in the end."
"I certainly didn't think I had the match won after I saved all those match points," said Vaidisova, who saved three match points in her aforementioned quarterfinal. "There was still a lot of work to be done. Nadia played better than me when it mattered. My serve worked well most of the match, but wasn't good enough."
Petrova is now 2-1 lifetime against Vaidisova. She won a tight two-setter at the US Open last year, which ended controversially when the Czech teenager lost her temper upon losing and was subsequently booed off the court; but a few weeks later it was she who prevailed, edging Petrova in three sets for the Bangkok title.
Awaiting Petrova in the final will be Anna Chakvetadze, who won an all-Russian match with Elena Dementieva, 75 36 60. The unseeded teen struggled with her left shoulder early on, even getting medical treatment after three games, but she still managed to win the first set. The No.4-seeded Dementieva won the second but appeared to have used up all her energy and Chakvetadze pounced, losing a total of six points in polishing off her fifth career Top 10 victory and reaching her first Tier I final.
"I still can't believe I'm in the final of the Kremlin Cup," Chakvetadze said. "For Russian players this is a very important tournament, and I'm so happy to be just one match from possibly winning the title."
"I was too tired in the end and couldn't bring my best tennis to the court today," Dementieva said. "I had two very tough matches this week and was trying very hard to be fully fit after I had some trouble with my leg last week but in the third set she was simply fresher than me."
Chakvetadze had already taken out four Top 10 players prior to Saturday's win, but this is the first time in her career she has done it twice in one week. In the opening round here, she ousted new world No.10 Dinara Safina in straight sets.
A lot on the line in Sunday's final; Chakvetadze leads series, 2-0
For both players, winning the Kremlin Cup would be one of their greatest honors. Although Petrova has already won six Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles (five in 2006) and a pair of Tier Is (Charleston and Berlin, both this past spring), she hasn't won on home soil yet; and for Chakvetadze it would be her first Tier I title, having won her first title two weeks ago at the Tier III event in Guangzhou.
But for Petrova, not only is there a title within reach, there is also a chance for vengeance. Between her stellar clay court season and her equally-impressive indoor season thus far, Petrova went through a hip injury-induced summer slump, the lowest points coming during the summer hardcourt season leading up to the US Open, where she failed to win a match in four tournaments. Two of those losses came to Chakvetadze.
Petrova was upended by her young countrywoman in her opening match at San Diego, 63 67(5) 62, as well as in her first match in Montreal, 61 64. But things seem a lot different for the 24-year-old Muscovite since hitting the indoor courts of Stuttgart last week, where she won her fifth title of the year.
"It's a dream to be playing the Kremlin Cup final," Petrova declared. "I really hope I can bring my best tennis to the court tomorrow."
"I've been playing very well all week," Chakvetadze said of her Kremlin Cup run, "so hopefully I can keep it going for just one more day."
-- WTA