Third seed Petrova folds against Morigami

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) – Third seed Nadia Petrova suffered a shock
defeat in the first round of the French Open, going down 6-2
6-2 to Japanese Akiko Morigami on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Russian told a news conference she was
hindered by an injury to her left leg sustained in practice on
Saturday.

“I was really hoping my leg would get better but
unfortunately I started to feel it again in the beginning of
the first set,” said Petrova.

“I really felt like my leg was just not responding and I
couldn’t move it as fast as I could move my right leg. That’s
why I was slow on the court and it was bothering me a bit in my
head as well because I was thinking about it.”

Petrova, who has won four titles this year, was unusually
sluggish as she lost in little more than an hour.

The Russian missed the Italian Open two weeks ago with a
pectoral injury and against Morigami struggled to create her
usual power, allowing the Japanese to dictate.

Morigami broke serve twice in the first set and twice more
in the second.

“I knew Nadia was a bit injured but I’ve just tried to
focus on my own game,” said Morigami.

Petrova said her opponent deserved victory.

“I must say Morigami played her best tennis today,” she
said. “I have no excuses.”