Nadia Petrova did not originally plan to compete at the 2008 Medibank International, but in a last chance bid to obtain match time before the Australian Open, the former top five star has accepted a wild card into Sydney.
The Medibank International announced on Friday that Petrova is the recipient of the last wild card into the women’s main draw.
“She approached the tournament for a wildcard and I was happy to award her with one,” tournament director Craig Watson said according to the West Australian.
“She’s been ranked among the best players in the world for a few years now and hopefully a wildcard into the Medibank International will help her also return to a place among the world’s top five.”
A return to the top five will not be easy for the slumping Petrova, who has not defeated a top ten player since February 2007.
Petrova began her 2008 season on Sunday, December 30 at the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts in Gold Coast, only to lose her opening match to last year’s semifinalist, Tathiana Garbin.
Although it is only a Tier II event, the Medibank International is scheduled to host a powerful field of Justine Henin, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, Anna Chakvetadze, Daniela Hantuchova, and Marion Bartoli.
World No. 3 Jelena Jankovic is still listed on the tournament website as a participant, but it appears unlikely that she will compete after getting injured this week at the Hopman Cup.
