After enduring a slew of misfortunes that saw her miss almost the entire 2012 season, it seems that the popular Andrea Petkovic is finally getting close to the level that propelled her inside the top 10 in October 2011. A fan favourite all over the world, Petkovic has been to hell and back in the last few months: every time she was attempting to make a comeback, misery struck and she would either injure something else or worsen an existing damage. Some, including herself, were starting to question her ability to return to the top of the game.
However, the ferocious German is not one that gives up easily. She keep fighting and, judging by the last results, it seems she has finally regained her momentum and her consistency, two key requirements in order to be able to fulfill her ambitions. Nevertheless, there is one thing that is currently missing from Petkovic's game and that is her ability to close out matches, especially big matches, like a WTA final. So far this season the German reached two final acts, but lost both of them in straight sets. In Nurnberg, in front of a partisan crowd, she was defeated 6-3,6-3 by Romanian sensation, Simona Halep, and on Sunday, she lost a second championship match, in Washington, succumbing to defending champion, Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova.
Petkovic has had a solid campaign in DC, defeating compatriot Mona Barthel and Frenchwoman Alize Cornet to make the final. Against Rybarikova she got off to a flying start winning the first four games and even holding a point for a 5-0 lead. She didn't take it and the Slovak got right back into the match, winning the next eight games to build a 6-4,2-0 lead. Andrea woke up and forced a second set tie-break, but could not cope with the inspired display of her opponent, who once again played great tennis under pressure, sealing a hard-fought 6-4,7-6 victory.
Although Rybarikova played sensational tennis at times, I feel this was yet another missed opportunity for Petkovic. What's even more worrying is that she has now lost three consecutive finals, her last title coming in Strasbourg, in 2011, when her opponent, Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, retired hurt after the first set.
It's definitely good to see Petko back on court and having fun, but she needs to find that extra mental strength to enable her to make better use of her opportunities. If she does so, I am sure she will get her happy ending by the end of the season.
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| Petkovic played her first final of the season in Nurnberg. Although cheered by a partisan crowd, the German lost 6-3,6-3 to Romanian Simona Halep. |
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| Although she had her chances, popular Petko lost a second consecutive final, in Washington DC, falling 4-6,6-7 to defending champion, Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova. |
photos(top-bottom): GETTY IMAGES,EFE, DPA
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