It won’t be an easy way back for Nadia Petrova. After struggling with left leg and hip injuries in the second half of the 2013 season and withdrawing from Washington DC, Toronto, Cincinnati, Tokyo and Beijing, the former world No.3 Russian was struck by the worst possible family drama when her mother died in a car crash in December. Petrova, now ranked 104th, after winning her first qualifying match against Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-2 7-6(2) at the Open GDF SUEZ in Paris, lost in the second round of qualies to Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-4 7-5.
Still, Petrova will continue her presence at the tournament by playing doubles with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Petrova’s last season was successful in doubles: with Katarina Srebotnik she won three WTA titles and qualified for the season-ending Championships in Istanbul. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
