Nadia Petrova needed just fifty-two minutes to spring the biggest upset of the 2010 Australian Open.
Reigning US Open champion and title favorite Kim Clijsters was sent packing from the women’s draw in the third round on Friday.
In one of the biggest surprises in recent months on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Petrova stunned Clijsters in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.
“This is something probably you want to forget as soon as possible and go home and just let it sit, get settled at home for a few days and then start working hard again and try to forget about it,” Clijsters said after the match.
“I’ve played some good tennis here, especially last week in Brisbane. I think that’s what I want to try to take away from this trip. It’s too bad it didn’t happen here in Melbourne.”
Clijsters lost the opening set in just eighteen minutes and won only five points in the entire set. The second set followed suit as she exited the Australian Open draw in her first Grand Slam loss since the Australian Open semifinals in 2007.
The win was a confidence booster for Petrova, who had not won a match in 2010 prior to Melbourne. When asked if this win boosts her chances of progressing further in the draw, the former Top 10 star agreed.
“If I’m able to perform like today and keep composure as I did today, yes, of course, I can come up with more upsets in this event,” Petrova said.
Petrova will play her countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova in the round of sixteen.
As much as Kim was a ‘no show’ ( given her high error count), Nadia certainly was the relentless player and never gave Kim an opportunity to dictate anything. I must say, it is rare to see Nadia play such a determined, relatively error free match.
I am not so surprised by Kim’s defeat as to the manner in which Nadia played an almost perfect game in the first set. Kim winning the US open, has made her a target, so most of the girls are raising up their game against her. Much like Justine, who I believe is psyching herself up for similar challenges. I am a bit worried about her ‘stamina’ though. It may also just be Justine’s undoing.
It was a bit surreal seeing Kim playing with no sense of guile. Her cleverness is one of her foremost asset. It was an opposite match to Gisela Dulko dismantling the hard hitting Ivanovic in the earlier round. Apparently, anything or anyone can happen now, even Justine getting by today was hard work. Counter to what most think, I believe she was fortunate to get by Elena Dementieva. It was that tough a match.
Kudos to Nadia, played hard and focused to the end. I hope she carries on with that momentum. It will be a shame if she suffers a let down from the high in the next round and whimpers out.
I feel constrained by my position.. But suffice to say i’m not at all surprised by this.