Maria Kirilenko - Official website

Hello everybody!

Thank you to all you for visiting my website. I have read all your emails in Australia !!!

Thank you a lot for such a kind words and for supporting me !

Tomorrow I am going back home to Moscow, and will get some energy there. I’ll not play in Pattaya but I’ll continue to make you happy soon on the tournaments !

Maria

Cara Black and Liezel Huber won thrusday against Maria and Agnieszka Radwanska in semifinal of the Australian Open. The score : 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.

To see the doubles results, click here.

Just to know….
Maria played once with… Liezel Huber !
In New Haven in august 2006, they lost in the first round against Michaella Krajicek and Corina Morariu (2-6, 6-3, 6-4).

Maria won once against Black and Huber
It was in Indian Wells in march 2005. Maria played with  the Argentian Maria-Emilia Salerni and won 7-5, 6-3. Then, Maria played 12 times against Black and Huber… without success.

Indian Wells - March 2005
Round of 16 : 7-5, 6-3 (Maria won with Salerni)

Rome - May 2005
Final : 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 (lost with Medina-Garrigues)

Moscow - October 2007
Round of 16 : 6-2, 6-3 (lost with Vesnina)

Montreal - July 2008
Final : 6-1, 6-1 (lost with Pennetta)

Moscow - October 2008
Semifinal : 6-1, 6-0 (lost with Pennetta)

Zurich - October 2008
Semifinal : 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 (lost with Pennetta)

Linz - October 2008
Quarterfinal : withdraw (with Pennetta)

Dubaï - February 2009
Final : 6-3, 6-3 (lost with A. Radwanska)

Birmingham - June 2009
Round of 16 : 6-4, 6-1 (lost with Errani)

Eastbourne - June 2009
Quarterfinal : 6-2, 6-2 (lost with Husarova)

Toronto - August 2009
Round of 16 : 6-4, 7-5 (lost with Vesnina)

Sydney - January 2010
Round of 16 : 6-2, 6-3 (lost with Safina)

Australian Open - January 2010
Semifinal : 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 (lost with A. Radwanska)

Maria and Agnieszka Radwanska won wednesday on quarterfinal against the Australian Sally Peers and the English Laura Robson. The score : 6-4, 6-1.

On semifinal, Maria and Agnieszka will play against the duet number one of the world, Cara Black and Liezel Huber.

To see the doubles results, click here.

Maria Kirilenko, did your left leg hinder you at all at the match? You had the trainer out there.
In the beginning, I didn’t feel it. Then after three games, like we had such long points. I start to feel it in my right leg. Then the physio taped my right leg. Then after the break, the five minutes’ break, I start to feel it on the left again. I was kind of feeling pain everywhere. But, I know that I lost not because of my pain in my legs, just because she was playing much better than me today.

What makes her a tough opponent?
She was running very well. I thought that I’m making winners, and she’s there. Maybe I had to come more to the net today because on the baseline, I didn’t have a chance. Plus for me was difficult to move. She was moving great, without any mistakes.

Is there anything you can take out of this tournament for the future, for the rest of the year?
Of course, it’s first time I reach the quarterfinal. I think it’s the best what I did in the Grand Slam. It was nice tournament for me.

Do you think she’s the fastest mover on the tour? How quick is she?
There is some girls who is also fast as her, like Dementieva. I think they’re kind of similar, you know, moving on court. You need to do something different. If you feel that you losing on the baseline, you need to change something. But, I tried. I tried to come to the net. But, she was just good today.

You played doubles yesterday. Because of your injury now, was it a mistake?
Well, if I would feel bad, I would not play doubles. Physio, they did really good tape. I said to my partner, « So I’m not going to run too much in the doubles, just help me a lot ». She was help me actually a lot. I could sit on the bench and you could play without me (laughter). I didn’t hurt myself at all in doubles yesterday.

Was it a hip, hamstring or thigh? What was hurting?
It’s hamstrings, it’s between my legs.

Do you think her weakness is her serve? Coming to this match, was the main goal to attack her serve?
I was trying to attack her serve. And she was serving not so fast today actually. Maybe it was her plan because maybe she thought if she gonna serve faster, I’m good return, I make a good returns. She was kind of serving to the body a lot, kind of slice serve, soft. It’s difficult attack from this kind of serve, when it’s coming like low. But from the second serve, was much better to attack because the ball was much higher over the net, and I had more opportunity to start the point with aggressive.

You’ve had a good start to the year. What are your expectations ranking‑wise for this year?
I’m just looking forward to get some rest time now, to recover my body. Next tournament going to be in Pattaya in Thailand, where I’m going to play. Just keep working hard. It’s first tournament. There’s some tournaments in the row this year. And I’m just keep going.

Jie Zheng defeated Maria tuesday on Rod Laver Arena court on quarterfinal of the Australian Open. The score : 6-1, 6-3.

To see the statistics of the match, click here.
To read on Australian Open website : Zheng creates history with final-four berth

To see the singles results, click here.

All the photos of Maria at the Australian Open, click here.