23-year-old defeated France’s top-seed melie Mauresmo in the final following the triumphs of Anastasia Myskina (2003 and 2004) and Maria Sharapova (2005). Petrova, who has won almost five million dollars in career prize-money BY OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

|q|You turned professional in 1998 and had won just one title before the Total Qatar Open...

|a|My only title on the WTA Tour came in Linz, Austria in 2005, but I have had several close calls. I was a finalist in four tournaments, including the Qatar German Open last May
when I lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne which was a disappointment. However, with this Qatar Open win in Doha I hope I go on to win more titles in the future.

|q|Russian girls have virtually swamped the tennis scene in the last few years and have been giving players from traditionally strong countries a run for their money...

|a| Yeah, tennis has grown into a very big sport in Russia and many more young girls are waiting in the wings to storm the scene. It’s great to so see so many doing well.

|q|What role has the Russian Tennis Federation played in the success of players like you, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and others? |a| I am afraid the Russian tennis
authorities cannot claim to have contributed anything to the success the players enjoy these days. Their contribution is just words because all they do is talk.

|q|Pretty strong words these. Aren’t you afraid of repercussions back home for making such comments?

|a| You shouldn’t fear anything when you are speaking the truth.
Anyway, I don’t think they (the Russian authorities) can control me in any way.

|q| But surely there must be someone who deserves some credit for what can be called a Russian tennis
revolution. |a| If anyone can take credit for the success of Russian players, it’s our parents. The parents of some of the girls made great sacrifices to see their daughters take up sport and
succeed.

|q|Talking about Russian tennis players, how good is the camaraderie between them? Do you spend time together while playing tournaments?

|a| It’s a strange thing but even though we are playing the same tournaments every week and often stay in the same hotels there’s a huge disconnect between us. You can blame it
on the generation.



|q| Could you elaborate? Why is there such a disconnect?

|a| See, we all talk to each other but all that is very casual. We certainly don’t do dinners or go shopping together. It’s a situation that I don’t like personally but you have to do live with it.

|q| Is it because of the competition?

|a| Yeah, we are playing against each other so frequently that it’s hard being good friends. Of course when we play team events like the Fed Cup we get along well with each other because national interest overrides other factors, but in individual competitions it’s difficult to maintain such bonhomie.

|q|Have you ever personally felt this strong rivalry you are talking about?

|a|Yes, it has happened with me personally. I have won many doubles titles with America’s Meghann Shaughnessy but when we started meeting each other in singles competition our friendship really suffered. It’s difficult to have friends and then compete with them. It’s something I don’t like but it happens.

|q| How did you pick up the sport?

|a|Sport runs in our family. My father, Victor Petrov, was a top hammer thrower while my mother, Nadejda Ilina, was a famous runner, having won a bronze medal in the 400m relay at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. I started playing tennis seriously when my parents worked in Egypt as athletics coaches. I lived in Cairo for more than three years.

|q| Anastasia Myskina was the first Russian to win a grand slam (the French Open in 2004). Then Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon and Svetlana Kuznetsova took the US Open title the same year. Are you ready for your first grand slam crown?

|a| Well, what can I say. Every professional tennis player dreams of winning a grand slam and I am no different but I am confident about that happening soon because I have been a consistent performer in the grand slams, having made the semifinals of the French Open twice and the quarterfinals of the US Open on two occasions. I have also been in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon once. So my time will come, I guess.

|q| How do you look at your career so far?

|a|I am quite pleased although I would have been happy with a few more titles.

|q| You defeated Mauresmo in the final. What were your feelings when you flew down to Doha?

|a| I knew that Mauresmo was the player to beat in Qatar. She was the top seed and I was the second seed so the draw meant we would have clashed only in the final and I am happy that I came through.

|q| There was also Martina Hingis making a comeback...

|a| It’s incredible that anyone can think of making a comeback after three years in the wilderness with a serious injury, but Martina was a great player when she was winning all those tournaments. But the draw put her on a collision course with Mauresmo in Qatar and she lost in the semi-finals. However, she is playing well and I am sure she will reach the top level soon.

|q| You have been gifted a Harley Davidson apart from the $95,500 top prize...

|a|Yes, it’s a wonderful gift. The Gulf is a wonderful place to play tennis. We are taken care of really well and I hope to come back next time.

|q| What are your ambitions for this year?

|a| Obviously to win as many events as possible and hopefully a grand slam. But seriously, I aim to stay healthy and give my best shot

|q| Could you elaborate? Why is there such a disconnect?

|a| See, we all talk to each other but all that is very casual. We certainly don’t do dinners or go shopping together. It’s a situation that I don’t like personally but you have to do live with it.

|q| Is it because of the competition?

|a| Yeah, we are playing against each other so frequently that it’s hard being good friends. Of course when we play team events like the Fed Cup we get along well with each other because national interest overrides other factors, but in individual competitions it’s difficult to maintain such bonhomie.

|q|Have you ever personally felt this strong rivalry you are talking about?

|a|Yes, it has happened with me personally. I have won many doubles titles with America’s Meghann Shaughnessy but when we started meeting each other in singles competition our friendship really suffered. It’s difficult to have friends and then compete with them. It’s something I don’t like but it happens.

|q| How did you pick up the sport?

|a|Sport runs in our family. My father, Victor Petrov, was a top hammer thrower while my mother, Nadejda Ilina, was a famous runner, having won a bronze medal in the 400m relay at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. I started playing tennis seriously when my parents worked in Egypt as athletics coaches. I lived in Cairo for more than three years.

|q| Anastasia Myskina was the first Russian to win a grand slam (the French Open in 2004). Then Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon and Svetlana Kuznetsova took the US Open title the same year. Are you ready for your first grand slam crown?

|a| Well, what can I say. Every professional tennis player dreams of winning a grand slam and I am no different but I am confident about that happening soon because I have been a consistent performer in the grand slams, having made the semifinals of the French Open twice and the quarterfinals of the US Open on two occasions. I have also been in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon once. So my time will come, I guess.

|q| How do you look at your career so far?

|a|I am quite pleased although I would have been happy with a few more titles.

|q| You defeated Mauresmo in the final. What were your feelings when you flew down to Doha?

|a| I knew that Mauresmo was the player to beat in Qatar. She was the top seed and I was the second seed so the draw meant we would have clashed only in the final and I am happy that I came through.

|q| There was also Martina Hingis making a comeback...

|a| It’s incredible that anyone can think of making a comeback after three years in the wilderness with a serious injury, but Martina was a great player when she was winning all those tournaments. But the draw put her on a collision course with Mauresmo in Qatar and she lost in the semi-finals. However, she is playing well and I am sure she will reach the top level soon.

|q| You have been gifted a Harley Davidson apart from the $95,500 top prize...

|a|Yes, it’s a wonderful gift. The Gulf is a wonderful place to play tennis. We are taken care of really well and I hope to come back next time.

|q| What are your ambitions for this year?

|a| Obviously to win as many events as possible and hopefully a grand slam. But seriously, I aim to stay healthy and give my best shot