Samantha Stosur crashes out to Nadia Petrova in the third round – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Reigning Australian Open titlist, Samantha Stosur, was tumbled out by the former world number three, Nadia Petrova, in troublesome three sets at the BNP Paribas Open 2012 on Monday. She endured a 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-7(5) shock at the hands of the Russian veteran
in the third round at this Premier Mandatory event held in United States.
After duelling in the longest match in the history of the US Open, the 30th seeded Russian not only avenged her loss but also extend her lead in the head-to-head series by 5-2 against Stosur. As a result, the Australian number one exited from
the early round at this hard court event held in Indian Wells, California.
"After that loss in New York it was hard," Petrova was quoted in a courtside interview. "I wanted to turn everything around. I wanted to win and walk off the court with a W. I don't really think I played unbelievable in the first set. My composure was perfect
though. I took the time, no errors, and I must say Sam didn't play her best. She was framing balls, not really putting a lot of first serves in - so that actually helped me get the lead in the match... Then it was a tough battle in the third set.”
The 29-year-old Russian stormed into the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and after hammering massive forehands, she winded the opening five games in a row before Stosur could hold on. Petrova then kept her serve once more and pocketed a breadstick.
Stosur, ranked 6th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, suffered the first blow in the opening game of the following set. Despite recovering in the sixth game, she lost her serve again in the ninth game and trailed at 4-5.
However, she not only broke back again but dominated in the tie-breaker to clinch the equaliser with a 7-6 (6) score line.
The hard hitting Australian got the desiderated break in the fifth game and went 3-2 up. Despite losing her edge in the very next game, she capitalised on another break chance in the eleventh game and took the lead once more. However, she squandered the
chance to triumph on her serve and then trailed in the tie-breaker to suffer a 6-7(5) loss.
Petrova, who is eying for her 11th career title, will next face her 20th seeded compatriot, Maria Kirilenko, who battled past Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino in three sets to set-up this meeting.
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