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March 2008 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
by Nick Fishpool |
 | | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova |
16-year old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova from Russia (a former 3 time Grand Slam Junior singles champion) is the featured player for March.
Anastasia, the 2006 ITF Junior World Champion, who turns 17 in July competed in three ITF Pro Circuit tournaments during the month, playing in both the singles and doubles events at all three tournaments.
Kicking off the month for Anastasia was an indoor $25,000 tournament held in Minsk, Belarus. Playing in her first ITF Pro Circuits tournament since November 2007 and her first tournament at any level since winning the Australian Open Juniors doubles title earlier in the year (her 5th Grand Slam Juniors doubles title), Anastasia wasted little time in securing a 63 60 win over Volha Duko from Belarus, a player who had reached the main draw after coming through the qualifying event. In the 2nd round she came up against Czech Republic player Lucie Hradecka, the number 3 seed here. As was to be expected, Lucie provided a far tougher test, but Anastasia still came out on top winning in straight sets, 63 64. Another straight sets victory (63 61) followed in the quarterfinal where she played Ksenia Palkina from Kyrgyzstan. Russia’s Anna Lapushchenkova and the number 1 seed now stood between Anastasia and a place in her first ITF Pro Circuit singles final since finishing as runner up in a $25,000 tournament back in November 2006. A closely fought first set went Anastasia’s way for the loss of 4 games and an even closer second set went to a tiebreak which Anna won 7-5 to level the match. Anastasia claimed a place in the final by taking the deciding set 63. Nikola Frankova from the Czech Republic, a lucky loser from the qualifying competition, was to be her opponent in the final. Knowing Nikola had already defeated the number 2 seed in the opening round, another close match was probably expected by those in attendance, but Anastasia comfortably won the match and with it the title, losing just one game to record a 60 61 victory. This was Anastasia’s first singles title on the ITF Pro Circuit since winning the singles title on the clay courts in Casale, Italy in May 2006, a win that allowed Anastasia to join the list of youngest ever winners of ITF Pro Circuit singles titles, a list which features, among others, Anna Kournikova (the first 14-year old winner) and current world number 1 Justine Henin.
Next, Anastasia made the journey to St. Petersburg-Vsevolozhsk in Russia for another indoor $25,000 tournament. The 5th seed Arina Rodionova gave Anastasia a tough match in the opening round but it was Anastasia who moved into the second round following a 63 64 win. In the second round, Sofia Shapatava from Georgia took the first set 7-2 on a tiebreak. Anastasia managed to recover and took the next two sets to win the match 67(2) 64 61 to set up a quarterfinal match with Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova, the number 3 seed. This was as far as Anastasia was to go in this event but some comfort could be taken from her 63 46 36 defeat as Magdalena went on to take the title. In the doubles event, Anastasia teamed up with Nikola Frankova, her opponent from the singles final in Minsk. Seeded 2, they won the title without dropping a set in any round, including the final where they defeated the top seeds 62 62.
Staying in Russia, Anastasia’s next tournament took place in Moscow. Like her previous two tournaments this month, this was a $25,000 indoor event. Up first was qualifier Angelina Gabueva from Russia, who was forced to retire at a set and 1-4 down. Round 2 was a re-match of the Minsk singles semi final and although Anna Lapushchenkova was seeded 1 just as in their Minsk encounter she was again beaten, this time in straight sets 61 64. The quarterfinal again provided Anastasia with seeded opposition but having just knocked out the top seed she wasted little time defeating the number 7 seed, Ksenia Pervak from Russia, 62 63. For the fourth round in succession here in Moscow, Anastasia was up against a Russian opponent, Julia Efremova. Julia stunned Anastasia by taking the opening set 64, but Anastasia quickly regained her composure and went on to only lose two more games as she wrapped up a 46 61 61 victory and move into a second singles final this month. In the final she was to play the number 2 seed, Ekaterina Dzehalevich from Belarus. Playing in tournament finals must really agree with Anastasia as following her previous final appearances this month she once again produced a fantastic final performance and took the title with a 60 62 victory. Also here in Moscow she once again teamed up with Nikola Frankova and seeded 4 they claimed their second successive doubles title, again without dropping a set in any round.
A great month then for Anastasia which saw her claim her first two singles titles since 2006 to take her career total to three singles titles from four final appearances. Her doubles career record, up to the end of March, now stands at seven titles from nine finals. If she can maintain this sort of form, which with the release of the first singles rankings in April has seen her reach a career high of 216, she will soon be riding even higher in the WTA Rankings list. Definitely one to keep your eye on in the coming years!
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