Nadia Petrova - Australian Open Women's Tennis Players
Currently ranked as world no. 22, Russian Nadia Petrova is yet to claim her first Grand Slam title. Although she has twice reached the French Open semifinals, and reached the number 3 spot on the world ranking, she has yet to shine on the court.
Nadia's big breakthrough came in 2003 when she beat both Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati on her way to the clay court semifinals. In 2004, she lost in the first round of the Australian Open, but her relative success on the WTA circuit led her being ranked no.9.
She again failed to impress at Roland Garros but at the 2007 US Open she pulled off the biggest win of her career by defeating former world no.1, Justine Henin in the fourth round 6-3, 6-2. Sadly she lost in the quarterfinals to fellow Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 6-3.
The Australian Open women's tennis player's hopes were dashed in 2005 when the eventual champion, Serena Williams, beat her 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. She again reached the semis at the French Open, but lost to Henin. She got as far as the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before Maria Sharapova knocked her out of the competition.
In 2006 she reached the quarterfinals at the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, but thereafter she stumbled and fell down the rankings and eventually pulled out of Wimbledon and the US Open.
Her 2007/2008 record was not much better:
- Knocked out by Serena Williams in the third round of the Australian Open
- Was the 'big upset' of the French Open when she was defeated by Kveta Peschke 7-5, 5-7, 6-0
- Lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon
- No.7 seed at the US Open but succumbed to Agnes Szavay 6-4, 6-4
- Defeated by Agnieszka Radwańska 1–6, 7–5, 6–0 at the 2008 Australian Open in the fourth round.
- Made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2008, but lost out to Elena Dementieva
- Lost in the third round of the US Open 2008 to Flavia Pennetta 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Petrova is certainly the 'dark horse' of the Australian Open 2009 – although she has never impressed on the larger stage of grand slam tennis, she has had some quality victories over top Australian Open women's tennis players like Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Jelena Jankovic.
Do you think Nadia Petrova will finally claim a women's singles title at a Grand Slam event? We use William Hill for all our tennis betting.
