i understand that is isn't the most well-known russian and her results haven't been that great so far, but she is a pretty good player and is starting to play a bit more on the challenger circuit. everytime i see her in a tournament i want to come into the russian roulette and wish her good luck but there isn't a thread for her (that i can see). so, anyone else think she should have a thread (not a whole forum but i think she should have a thread like this)?
Nina won the doubles title w/ Kalashnikova though, for her first WTA title of any kind. Good work.
Great season for Nina really, finishes inside the top 100 for doubles & singles, and almost doubles her career prizemoney this year alone.
It really could have been a lot better though had she been consistant. Lot's of points to defend in Australia, she'll probably play another week or two before then to cushion the body blow that will be those points dropping off.
(3)Nina Bratchikova (RUS) v Valeria Savinykh (RUS)
(wc)Stephanie Bengson (AUS) v Sacha Jones (AUS)
Marie-Eve Pelletier (CAN) v Julia Glushko (ISR)
Yue-Yue Hu (CHN) v (5)Lauren Davis (USA)
Judging by Nina's current mental state, she'll lose to Valeria, unless Valeria retires.
Regarding h2h, she's down 0-1 against her, but this is their first meeting on a hardcourt.
I wonder if that played on her mind. Before the match both players knew whoever lost would be the LL (as the other 3 matches had already been completed and whoever lost was the highest ranked loser) that plays Cirstea, so they didn't stretch themselves too hard.
Anyway, she's playing Pattya this year instead of the Paris Open, which is a good choice.
Here's her section:
1-IVANOVIC, ANA SRB vs MORITA, AYUMI JPN
SCHEEPERS, CHANELLE RSA vs DATE-KRUMM, KIMIKO JPN
BRATCHIKOVA, NINA RUS vs PEER, SHAHAR ISR
6-WC-HANTUCHOVA, DANIELA SVK vs PUCHKOVA, OLGA RUS
She has a great first round She actually also leads Shahar, 1-0, having defeated her for her first title in 2003! :lol:
Well, Nina seems to have lucked her way into the Qtrs. First she gets Shahar, "one win in 10 tries" Peer, then defending champ Dani retires, 26 03 down. :lol: Last year, she lost in qualifying!
Now she meets red-hot Ayumi Morita, who took out Ivanovic and Date-Krumm.