Maria and Nadia : « We are going to Istanbul »

Maria and Nadia Petrova play this week the doubles WTA Championships in Istanbul.

When do you plan to go to Istanbul and how will you prepare for the competition ? Will you celebrate ?
Nadia Petrova : We are going to Istanbul, I guess it will be on Tuesday. We will have to acclimatize and to adjust to the surface. I think we will celebrate today (saturday) because it’s an important win. The match was tough. I will be a friendly dinner. We have to relax a little bit. We have emotions we have to get rid of. And the step on court composed.

Maria, after yesterday’s match you said you weren’t feeling very well. Did it affect your game today ?
I guess it was good for me that I wasn’t playing the singles today. We stepped on court fresh and everything went well. I had to cover only the half of the court so I didn’t have to run a lot. […] I could show a high level of game and win.

Singles are the priority for you. When did the doubles move to the first priority this year ?
N.P. : The Olympics, of course. We wanted to win a medal and we could do it. It was tough. As well as the road to the Istanbul had been. Though we didn’t play a lot of matches together. We played the first matches very well together. […] It’s nice to play in Istanbul the WTA Championship in doubles.

Was it important for you that you played against your concurrent and that they didn’t fall before this stage of the tournament ?
N.P. : It’s very good that we met here. […] The girls play very well and they have won a lot of tournament lately. […] It’s good everything was decided today.

Do you plan to play together in the next year?
M.K. : We decided to form up our duo especially for the Olympics. […] Next year we’ll see.
N.P. : We’re more singles players so…[…] Maria had a great year and I think she should concentrate on singles. If I were her I would do this. […] I think they is no very strong top 10…Caroline Wozniacki had three sets today…And Sam Stosur against Ana Ivanovic too…[…] With [Maria’s] ranking I think she can be in to 10…
M.K. : My ranking?
N.P. : (laughing) Yeah.
M.K. : Ok. You’ll be my coach! (laughing)

Three duos playing in Istanbul are pretty tough opponents. But who don’t to play against ?
M.K. : Are the Williams playing there?

No.
M.K. : Thanks God! (laughing)
N.P. : Every [duo] is tough and deserves to be there. It’s tough to play with such format with decisive point…
M.K. : They also have decisive points?
N.P. : I think they do. They are all experienced and #1…They have 2 Grand Slams. […] Everyone is there.

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