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The rise of the Russian threat
Paris, Jun 02: Vera Zvonareva`s most memorable experience before this year`s French Open was losing 6-0 6-0 to Nadia Petrova when she was eight -- now the two Russians will meet again in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Paris, Jun 02: Vera Zvonareva's most memorable experience before this year's French Open was losing 6-0 6-0 to Nadia Petrova when she was eight -- now the two Russians will meet again in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
The pair caused the biggest upsets of the women's draw so far yesterday with Zvonareva beating third-seeded Venus Williams 2-6 6-2 6-4, while the 20-year-old Petrova downed seventh seed Jennifer Capriati 6-3 4-6 6-3 to set up their quarter-final clash.
Despite the thrashing she received a decade ago on the outside courts of a Moscow Tennis Academy, Zvonareva was the first of the pair to win a WTA Tour title -- earlier this year at Bol in Croatia.
The 18-year-old showed no fear or respect for her much vaunted opponent yesterday.
''I had never met her, never seen her. I did not know what to expect. I just fought for each point,'' she said. ''Of course it's a big win but the tournament still continues for me.''
Zvonareva first made an impression on the circuit at Roland Garros last year, when she reached the fourth round as a qualifier and took eventual champion, and current world number one Serena Williams, to a third set.
''I don't have any fear going into a tournament. I just go on court and try to play my game.''
Petrova, who moved to Egypt as a child, said she did not remember the match against Zvonareva.
''To be honest I don't remember that match at all,'' said Petrova. ''I left Russia with my parents to move to Egypt when I was 11 and I lost all connections with my past.
''I don't have better ties with Russian players than with others.''
The emergence of the pair has seen them not only move from out of the shadows of their more illustrious compatriot, Anna Kournikova, but also highlighted the depth of Russian tennis.
There were 11 Russians in the women's draw this year, a first for a country who is more well known on the men's tour with players like Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
''Tennis is really big (in Russia), there's a lot of girls and boys playing since they're seven and eight,'' said Zvonareva. ''I think everybody wants to be the best since there are hundreds of us.
''Maybe that's why there are lots of girls on the tour. Because people love tennis in Russia right now.''
Bureau Report
The pair caused the biggest upsets of the women's draw so far yesterday with Zvonareva beating third-seeded Venus Williams 2-6 6-2 6-4, while the 20-year-old Petrova downed seventh seed Jennifer Capriati 6-3 4-6 6-3 to set up their quarter-final clash.
Despite the thrashing she received a decade ago on the outside courts of a Moscow Tennis Academy, Zvonareva was the first of the pair to win a WTA Tour title -- earlier this year at Bol in Croatia.
The 18-year-old showed no fear or respect for her much vaunted opponent yesterday.
''I had never met her, never seen her. I did not know what to expect. I just fought for each point,'' she said. ''Of course it's a big win but the tournament still continues for me.''
Zvonareva first made an impression on the circuit at Roland Garros last year, when she reached the fourth round as a qualifier and took eventual champion, and current world number one Serena Williams, to a third set.
''I don't have any fear going into a tournament. I just go on court and try to play my game.''
Petrova, who moved to Egypt as a child, said she did not remember the match against Zvonareva.
''To be honest I don't remember that match at all,'' said Petrova. ''I left Russia with my parents to move to Egypt when I was 11 and I lost all connections with my past.
''I don't have better ties with Russian players than with others.''
The emergence of the pair has seen them not only move from out of the shadows of their more illustrious compatriot, Anna Kournikova, but also highlighted the depth of Russian tennis.
There were 11 Russians in the women's draw this year, a first for a country who is more well known on the men's tour with players like Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
''Tennis is really big (in Russia), there's a lot of girls and boys playing since they're seven and eight,'' said Zvonareva. ''I think everybody wants to be the best since there are hundreds of us.
''Maybe that's why there are lots of girls on the tour. Because people love tennis in Russia right now.''
Bureau Report