Petkovic topples top seed

[1]

Comeback German girl Andrea Petkovic toppled top seed Nina Bratchikova of Russia while Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm shocked compatriot and second seed Misaki Doi to storm into the semi-finals of the WTA Indian Open, here today.

The 25-year-old wild card entrant Petkovic was ruthless in hammering Bratchikova 6-2 6-0 in just under an hour while fifth seed 42-year-old Kimiko got the better of her much younger compatriot Misaki Doi 6-1 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Petkovic was on the top of her game from the start while Bratchikova erratic as she began the match with three unforced errors and went on to drop her serve in the first game. The trend continued throughout the encounter with the German breaking Bratchikova again in the fifth game to pocket the set. The second set was one-sided affair with Petkovic toying with her opponent and did not lose a game in the bargain.

"I was very focused from the start. Nina is a very good player and I knew that I cannot afford to relax against her. I am very happy the way I played today," said Petkovic, who is making a comeback to competitive tennis after a long injury lay-off.

She will now face seventh seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who reached the last four after Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum retired due to injury with the score reading 6-7 (3), 4-1 in the other quarterfinal.

In the day's other match, veteran Date-Krumm gave a lesson or two to her younger compatriot as she found difficult angles and played on her opponents nerves to win in one hour 16 minutes.

Date-Krumm raced through the first set and when she broke Moi in the third game. However, Doi broke back immediately and for a brief period matched Date-Krumm stroke for stroke.

But the youngster crumbled under pressure while serving to save the match in the 10th game as she made three unforced errors to hand the quarterfinal to the opponent.

Date-Krumm was relieved that the match ended early.
"I was playing third match in 24 hours and I was getting tired. But thankfully it was over in two sets," she added.

Results (singles quarterfinals): Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt 1-Nina Bratchikova 6-2, 6-0; (7) Elina Svitolina (UKR) bt Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 6-7(3) 4-1 retd. (5) Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) bt (2) Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-1, 6-4.