[Mana]

Originally Posted by Tennis Fool

Although I believe Pune is not WTA, according to Meelis.

It probably should not be, as it is just a glorified challenger, but it does count as a WTA title for Nina

[Tennis Fool]

Nina is currently on the EL for Shenzhen, next tournament after the 25K Pune.

[Tennis Fool]

Nina had her best year in 2012, finishing in the top 100 for the first time.
2012 85
2011 143

To repeat the trick for 2013, Nina needs to start out well, as she has about 60 points to defend before the AO, and 212 points to defend at the AO!

She has not ended the year convincingly, and needs to right the ship, quick!

Her Shenzhen draw:

Li v Minella
Bratchikova v Cohen
Duan v Q
Cadantu v Jovanovski

Julia is coming off a strong ending to 2012, so this could be a tough match. Nina then potentially meets Na Li.

[Tennis Fool]

Nina feeds Julia a bagel!

[Tennis Fool]

Nina-- no words

Loses to Julia, 60 67(7) 57.

3 mps lost, multiple breaks and double breaks given up.

Should have won this in an hour, if she'd had any confidence

Loss of her 2nd round Brisbane points. Better get it together in Hobart-- but she won't.

[Tennis Fool]

Nina's Sydney q-draw:

(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.

[Tennis Fool]

Defeated Lera in just under 2 hours, 64 57 46. So glad to see Nina play clutch, after that disaster against Julia! Next up Sacha Jones. Should be easy

[Tennis Fool]

OMG, is this our Nina, pulling out three set matches She rallied against Sacha, winning 36 75 62! I wonder if she saved any match points?

Now faces Lauren Davis for a spot in the main draw.

[Tennis Fool]

Finally fell-- upset in three to Lauren, 63 46 16. I wonder if she had any opportunities to win that match in the second set?

Good luck to her at the AO! She'll need it. She has 210 points to defend!

[Tennis Fool]

Update: Nina gets into the main draw as a LL. Will play Cirstea. Good luck to her!

[Mana]

Maybe Cirstea is still sick?

Nina needs to pull something out of the bag here.

[anthonyqld]

Originally Posted by Tennis Fool

Update: Nina gets into the main draw as a LL. Will play Cirstea. Good luck to her!

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.

[Tennis Fool]

^ Maybe?

[Mana]

Had Cirstea on the ropes, but like always, couldn't close it out, lost in 3.

[Tennis Fool]

^ Hope she didn't have match points in that second set

We can definitely say, Nina isn't the player she was last year at this time.