Pavlyuchenkova Caps Off Week of Upsets by Capturing Paris Title

February 3, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had quite a week in Paris. Currently ranked 21st in the world, Pavlyuchenkova defeated Sara Errani in the finals of the Open GDF SUEZ, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and in the process, eliminating three top 20-ranked players en route to the title. 

"I'm really happy with how I started this year so far, so I'm just looking forward to keeping it up," Pavlyuchenkova said. "What makes this special is it's the biggest one I've won so far, and of course to beat so many good players gives me more confidence. But I still have to keep working hard."

Pavlyuchenkova came out firing in the finals against Errani, building a 3-1 lead in the first set, but Errani reeled off the next seven games to build a 6-3, 2-0 lead, even holding a point for 6-3, 3-0. Pavlyuchenkova struck back with seven games of her own to take the second set and move ahead 1-0 in the third, but Errani retaliated with three straight games to build a 3-1 lead in that decider. Pavlyuchenkova then ran off five games in a row—dropping just six points in the process—to run away with the match and the title, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In the semis, Pavlyuchenkova defeated the top-seeded and world number five Maria Sharapova, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sharapova would have moved back to number four by capturing the Open GDF SUEZ title. 

"I started the match really well, but as the match continued I wasn't doing the things that really helped me in the first set," said Sharapova. "I wasn't being aggressive, I wasn't in the court—she was playing with a lot of confidence in the match and I gave her that opportunity to step in and play her game."

In the quarterfinals, Pavlyuchenkova faced another top 10 player, the ninth-ranked and fourth seeded Angelique Kerber, and came out on top, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3). She opened the event with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Francesca Schiavone, followed by a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Carla Suarez Novarro in the second round.

It was the Pavlyuchenkova's sixth overall WTA title, her first five coming at International-level tournaments. She is a three-time winner at Monterrey in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and in Istanbul in 2010 and Oeiras in 2013.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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