Print

Mail

wiki links

Nadia Petrova fights back to win seventh WTA title

Nadia Petrova is overcome by emotion at winning the final of the 15th WTA Gaz de France Tennis Open 2007 in Paris, France, on Sunday. PHOTO: EPA

Nadia Petrova came back from a set down to beat Lucie Safarova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday and win the Open Gaz de France.

The world No. 7 fought back from one set down to claim her seventh WTA title in one hour and 48 minutes.

"She made it really tough for me, especially on the match points," Petrova said in a courtside interview. "She played unbelievable tennis and I was struggling a bit on my second serve. It is amazing to win here in Paris because I love the surface and the crowd so much."

Safarova, who beat compatriot Nicole Vaidisova, third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and former world No. 1 Justine Henin en route to the final, fell short of experience after a flying start.

Safarova broke into the limelight at last month's Australian Open by knocking out then champion Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round before falling to Vaidisova in the quarter-finals.

The 20-year-old Czech tormented the world No. 7 with booming returns, stunning backhands and unpredictable forehands to snatch the first set in just 30 minutes.

She gallantly took her chance in the first game of the second set, stealing Petrova's serve when the Russian sent a forehand wide.

Petrova, however, hit back, taking advantage of Safarova's string of unforced errors to win six games in succession to claim the second set in 32 minutes.

The Russian, who eliminated holder Mauresmo of France in Saturday's semi-final, broke again in the decider's third and fifth games.

The Czech saved a three match points in all before bowing out.
This story has been viewed 1060 times.