Stuttgart GP Title

Nadia Petrova seizes Stuttgart GP title
9th Oct, 2006 09:13:20 AM

STUTTGART: Russian Nadia Petrova ended the run of unseeded French teenager Tatiana Golovin to claim the Stuttgart Grand Prix title with a 6-3, 7-6 win here on Sunday.

The fourth seed, who had lost all three previous meetings with Golovin, claimed her fifth title of the year after winning in Doha, Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin.

Golovin earned the first break, taking a 3-2 lead when a double-handed backhand from Petrova fell marginally long and was called by the umpire.

The Frenchwoman failed to build on her advantage, however, when a netted forehand allowed Petrova to level at 3-3, and the Russian broke again to lead 5-3 when Golovin made a backhand error.

Petrova missed several first serves as the match progressed, and her second serve was often weak and duly punished by Golovin. But it was Petrova who broke to lead 2-1 in the second set when a deep ball forced Golovin to net a double-handed backhand.

But Petrova struggled to maintain her lead, fighting off a break point in the next game and then failing to win a break point for 4-1 when Golovin struck a fine crosscourt forehand winner.

Golovin’s persistence finally paid off when she levelled at 4-4, but the biggest drama of the match came in the last few points.

At 4-4 in the tiebreak, Petrova fell and injured her right ankle while trying to change direction. After play was held up for several minutes while the ankle was taped the Russian broke Golovin on the next point, and then won a lengthy rally to go up 6-4.

A disappointed Golovin hurled her racquet to the ground and Petrova claimed victory on the next point when a ball from Golovin landed long.

Pictures: Stuttgart Grand Prix, Stuttgart, German, 2006

Nadia Wins Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

Written by Lawntennisnews
Published October 08, 2006

Stuttgart, Germany — Nadia Petrova won the final of the $650,000 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart after defeating Tatiana Golovin in straight sets.

The Russian took a spin around centre court in the red Porsche Targa 4 after winning 6-3 and 7-6 (4). In the first set, Petrova’s service game was broken in the fifth game but Golovin could not take the lead after she had to face a re-break for three all. Petrova broke again in the eighth game and took a 5-3 lead. She served out and took the first set hitting an ace on 40-love.

In the second set, Golovin started with winning her service with a love game and an ace, but in the third game, Petrova broke the French service game when Golovin hit the net twice on deuce.

Petrova took a 3-1 lead, but after a double fault and two errors, Golovin tied to 4-all in the second set. Both players held on to their service game after that had to play a tie-break.

The Russian took a 3-1 lead in the tie and Golovin tied to 4-all hitting a winner. Petrova fell, stayed down for a little while, and asked for the WTA trainer for some treatment.

After coming back on court Petrova hit a winner for 5-4, and serving for her first match point, Golovin hit a return forehand long. The Russian was on matchpoint, 6-4. She had one service left to take the tie-break, the set, the match and the Porsche. After a rally that could have gone both ways, Golovin hit the ball long. Petrova realized she won another WTA title and the red Porsche, after she saw the ball passing her by and landing behind the baseline.

“I was really not sure about winning this match,” Petrova said, looking back to her victory. “It was such a relief when I saw the ball flying out. She almost hit my body and I saw the hand of that line judge calling it out.”

“I do have a few pains in my body here and there, a couple of things did really hurt in my body today. But Tatiana was tired as well.

“My advantage was that she has not won a title, the first one is always the hardest. There is always more pressure to win your first title.

“I feel this moment is a big change for me. I had a tough talk with my coach in China. It was all about being focused. I think forgetting about distractions and being focused is the key for me. That helped me a lot.

“Now I am going to enjoy this, go home to my family and friends and play Moscow,” the new Porsche Tennis Grand Prix champion Nadia Petrova said at the press conference.