By Etienne Stekelenburg
November 2 2003

Anastasia Myskina defeats fellow Muscovite Nadia Petrova in the Advanta semifinal in Philadelphia USA. The Russian battle took three sets with a close finish 6-4, 4-6 and 7-5. Myskina will meet Amelie Mauresmo of France in the final. Both players seemed to be very tired and played not up to their standard. After losing the first set 6-4 Nadia Petrova had to ask for a medical time out. After returning Petrova took a 2-0 lead when she broke Myskina’s serve but had to face a rebreak. Myskina took a 3-2 lead but also lost her next serve. At three all Petrova produced some well-placed serves and an ace for 3-4.

Myskina lost her following service game at love-40 and her fellow Muscovite Petrova was leading the second set 3-5. However Petrova could not take advantage of this lead and lost her serve for 4-5. Myskina could not tie the score and produced a double fault for 30 all and lost her serve and the second set 4-6 for Nadia Petrova.


The third set looked like a copy of the second. After Petrova took the 3-4 lead Myskina had to ask for a three minute medical time out. She was almost in tears from pain and fatigue. The trainer took care of her forearm and later she was treated for muscle cramps in her legs.


After Myskina had tied the score to 5 all she broke Petrova’s serve for 6-5 when she ended up with a double fault at advantage for Myskina. The following service game for Myskina ended the match when she converted her second game, set and match point.

Nadia Petrova lost her chance to get selected for the WTA Championships in LA. She had to win the final to get selected for the first eight of the lineup.