Article
27 Jul 2021
Pavlyuchenkova sets Olympic record with smooth quarter-final run
27 Jul 2021
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s serene progress at Tokyo 2020 may have been fairly low-key amidst the top-seed exodus from the women’s singles draw – but it has been historic.
The Roland Garros finalist defeated Ashleigh Barty’s conqueror, Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-1 6-3 on Tuesday to move into the quarter-finals and set a record for the fewest games dropped into the last eight of the women’s singles since Olympic tennis returned as a full-medal sport in 1988.
The 13th seed has dropped just seven games in total in victories over Sara Errani, Anna-Lena Friedsam and Sorribes Tormo.
Seeking to be as efficient as possible in tricky humidity in Tokyo, Pavlyuchenkova may have polished off victory over the Spaniard a little sooner having held break-points for a 6-1 4-0 lead on Tuesday, but was forced to take her foot off the gas.
“I was getting a little tired,” admitted the 30-year-old. “The weather’s getting hot again, so I tactically tried to play smart and make the rallies shorter as well.
“With these conditions it’s very tough to play every single point at 100%, which I usually do, but here it takes a lot of energy out of me, so I’m trying to be a bit smarter with that.”
Pavlyuchenkova will face Belinda Bencic in the last eight after the Swiss blocked any chance of a re-match of the Roland Garros final, defeating Barbora Krejcikova 1-6 6-2 6-3.
Bencic has won four of their previous six meetings, but the identity of her next opponent is of little concern to Pavlyuchenkova.
“I honestly don’t focus on that at all,” she said. “I don’t focus on the names. I don’t focus on the rankings. I just take it match by match. It’s going to be another new match. All I focus on is myself. I want to feel good. I want to play good tennis, fight and do the best I can to win.”
Competing for a medal on two fronts in Tokyo, Pavlyuchenkova will pair up with Andrey Rublev in a formidable fourth-seeded partnership in the mixed doubles, with the pair set to face Croatian duo Darija Jurak and Ivan Dodig in the first round.
So does she have high expectations for mixed success with the world No. 7?
So does she have high expectations for mixed success with the world No. 7?
“We practiced mixed once here – and it was a good one, I think, on the practice court, but let’s see,” she said. “I’m excited to play with him. He’s an amazing player so it’s a good and fun challenge I think.”