Petrova powers into Paris quarter-finals

Russian's Nadia Petrova returns a forehand to her German opponent Martina Muller at Paris WTA Open. Petrova won 6-1, 6-2.

PARIS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Russian Nadia Petrova made light work of Germany's Martina Muller to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Open with a merciless 6-1 6-2 victory on Thursday.

Fourth seed Petrova, who will play compatriot Dinara Safina for a place in the last four, wrapped up a straightforward win in 51 minutes.

The world number seven, who beat Safina in their two previous meetings, built her success on a highly reliable serve and broke her opponent four times.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian Anna Chakvetadze recovered from a shaky start to reach the last eight with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory over Spaniard Anabel Medina.

Eighth seed Chakvetadze will next play either holder Amelie Mauresmo or Nathalie Dechy, who meet in an all-French second round clash later on Thursday.

Medina converted one of her two break points to edge the first set but Chakvetadze's efficient groundstrokes eventually saw the Russian through after two hours and nine minutes.

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The Russian showed no signs of her loss to Serena a few weeks ago, winning 90% of her first serve points; an amazing ratio for a big server such as herself.

She only faced one break point throughout the match, and saved it with ease. Nadia was even better on break point conversions, winning 4 of 6 of the break points she faced.

Nadia’s next match will be against Russian compatriot Dinara Safina. This is definately a more difficult match for Nadia, who really hasn’t played too many top players as of yet. However, if Nadia keeps up her consistent first serves, and keeps the errors to a minimum, she just may bury Safina before the match even begins. I see Nadia winning in 2-3 sets. She’ll have to be in control of her emotions, or at least be in better control than the often emotionally unstable sister of the emotionally unstable Marat Safin. If that intangeble alone is in Nadia’s favor, I see her marching into the semis, where she’ll most likely play HUGE crowd favorite, Amelie Mauresmo.

Unfortunately, Nadia will be unable to move up in the rankings, even if she wins. However, the better she does here, the closer the gap will be between her and Swiss Miss Martina Hingis.

A good showing here would pave the way for her return to the top 5. All in all, a great match by Nadia to beat Muller, and here’s hoping for an even better pummling against Safina!!
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Mauresmo marches through in Paris

France's Amelie Mauresmo chats with her coach Loic Courteau during her WTA Paris Open tennis match against her French opponent Nathalie Dechy in Paris. Mauresmo won 6-3, 6-2. Players have mixed feelings about the WTA's latest experiment with coaches, aimed at spicing up the game for spectators. For several months, the WTA has allowed players to call on their coaches during matches. But while some have taken to the new initiative, others have steadfastly blanked it.

Amelie Mauresmo came through an all-French encounter against Nathalie Dechy 6-3 6-3 to keep her title defence at the Paris Indoor Open on track.

The second seed dominated Dechy and wrapped up victory in one hour and 22 minutes to set up a quarter-final with Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

"I haven't played much these last few months so I'm trying to put things back in place," Mauresmo said.

"I don't think it will take too long because I feel good physically."

Chakvetadze set up a meeting with Mauresmo by defeating Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 4-6 6-4 6-4.

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"It is going to be hard for me, in front of the French crowd," Chakvetadze.

"But I do not fear anyone and I think it is going to be great tennis."

Fourth seed Nadia Petrova had few problems easing into the last eight with a 6-1 6-2 win over Germany's Martina Muller. She will now face compatriot Dinara Safina.

Petrova said: "I did not play that well but this win will give me confidence for the next match."

There was more cheer for the home fans in the French capital as Tatiana Golovin beat Ekaterina Bychkova 6-4 6-4 to advance.

The Russian-born 19-year-old now meets Justine Henin next but Golovin said: "I've always played well here and I just have to take my chances."

Czech Lucie Safarova completed the quarter-final line up with a 6-4 6-2 victory over compatriot and fifth seed Nicole Vaidisova.

Safarova faces third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in her next match.
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Henin through after early jitters

Belgium's Justine Henin returns a backhand to her French opponent Emilie Loit during their WTA Paris Open match in Paris.

Top seed Justine Henin came from a set down to beat Emilie Loit in the second round of the Paris Open on Wednesday.

Looking rusty in her first match since November, Henin was unable to stop her French opponent taking the first set.

But the world number two found her form after that and claimed the second set with a wonderful drop volley before cruising through the decider.

Henin served 14 aces in total to complete a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory and secure a place in the quarter-finals.

"In the first set I just wasn't playing. I didn't take the initiative," said Henin. "I waited a while and then my level rose. I was very happy after that.

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"I played the first set on the defensive without being positive but then I started volleying more and hitting more to her backhand.

"But I didn't move well and was a lot slower around the court than before."

Seventh seed Dinara Safina joined Henin in the last eight after a marathon battle against Frenchwoman Camille Pin.

The Russian served seven aces but also had eight double faults in her 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win, a contest lasting two and a quarter hours.

Safina admitted it had been a physical struggle, saying afterwards: "Honestly, I had cramps in my hands but I tried not to show it. I felt like the Road Runner out there on court.

"At times I had to prise my fingers open, I was just glad it didn't go deeper because the problem is when it goes to your legs."
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Hingis races to record fifth Tokyo title

Switzerland's Martina Hingis holds up the winner's trophy during an awarding ceremony after the final match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in Tokyo 04 February 2007.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Former world number one Martina Hingis thrashed Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-2 to win a record fifth Pan Pacific Open title on Sunday.

The Swiss second seed completely outclassed Ivanovic, wrapping up a one-sided final in 71 minutes to capture her third singles title since returning full-time to the WTA Tour in 2006.

"Winning (tournaments) is twice as sweet this time around definitely," Hingis told reporters. "It used to be so normal for me in 1997 and 1998.

"I never thought I'd have the chance to win tournaments again. This time it feels like I really deserve it. I'm more proud this time round."

It was also a 43rd career singles title for Hingis, who previously won in Tokyo in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and was a losing finalist on three other occasions.

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Hingis won five grand slam singles titles between 1997 and 1999 before quitting the game at the end of 2002 due to nagging foot and ankle trouble.

CLEVER ANGLES

Ivanovic had beaten Hingis in Montreal last year in their only other meeting, but the fifth seed had no answer to Hingis's unerring precision and clever use of angles.

Hingis, who reached the quarter-finals of last month's Australian Open, is set to remain at number six when the new world rankings are released on Monday.

"Hopefully I can be more successful this year," said the 26-year-old, who raised a few eyebrows when she suggested she would use her trophy as a sushi dish at her home.

"This year I want to prove myself even more. I have to keep improving if I'm going to survive in the game today."

Hingis earned $182,000 for her victory. She is currently fourth in the WTA's all-time list of women's prize money winners with just under $20 million.

Ivanovic, who reached the final after world number one Maria Sharapova retired in their semi-final with a hamstring injury, is projected to rise to 14th in the new rankings.

"It didn't feel good really," shrugged the 19-year-old from Belgrade. "But it was great to be in a final against Martina. She just played an unbelievable match."
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