Nadia Petrova
Tenth seed Nadia Petrova
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Thursday, 18, Jun 2009 12:01
Date of birth: 08/06/1982 (Age: 27).
Nationality: Russian
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 143lbs
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned professional: 1999
Current ATP singles ranking: 10
Best Wimbledon performance: Quarter-finals – 2005, 2008
Grass court pedigree
With two Wimbledon quarter-final appearances, Nadia Petrova can hold her own on the surface. Although adept on faster surfaces, she is more suited to clay with her baseline game.
In both her Wimbledon last-eight matches Petrova was beaten by more successful compatriots - 2005 saw a loss to defending champion Maria Sharapova, whilst in 2008 she lost to eventual semi-finalist Elena Dementieva.
A first-round win over Ana Ivanovic at the Aegon Championships this year saw Petrova begin the grass court season in excellent form. Yet after retiring hurt against Vera Dushevina in the second round, maintaining fitness will be key.
Wimbledon seeding: 10th
Chances of SW19 success?
2009 has been a tough year for Nadia Petrova. After contracting viral meningitis during off-season training in Argentina, a foot injury in early spring threatened to derail her year.
Yet she showed no signs of physical fatigue in an epic battle with Maria Sharapova in the French Open. After a 6-1 second set, and chances to win the match in the third, she eventually lost the final set 6-8 due to mental weariness more than anything.
Each year Petrova is tipped to do well with her weapons of a big forehand and powerful serve. Her seeding reflects a strong grand slam record, having reached at least the quarter-finals of all four major events, and was twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros.
Her game temperament is perhaps her biggest weakness. Her stated goal is to win a major - yet in the most important matches, mental strength is usually found wanting.
Prediction: Quarter-finalist
A familiar name in the final stages of grand slams, Petrova has the experience.
She will have no reason to fear higher seeds such as fellow Russians Dementieva and Zvonareva, as they too have suffered from brittle match temperaments. And it is this which remains her obstacle to progression, alongside injury worries.
At 27, Petrova enters her tenth year on the tour in perhaps in the autumn of her career - but the more she wants it, the more her game appears to suffer.
And with this tendency to break down in crucial moments, major success may again elude this talented Russian.
Marcus Dubois