Petrova plots comeback

The former world No 3 Nadia Petrova credits her slump in the past year to a mid-career crisis.

BALI // Nadia Petrova credited her slump in the past year to a mid-career crisis. The former world No 3 plummeted in the rankings after failing to win a match in six of her first seven tournaments this year. She got back on track at Eastbourne, where she reached the final, following that up with a Wimbledon quarter-final before claiming her eighth career title in Cincinnati last month. The Russian, 26, is seeded fourth at the Bali Classic this week, where a semi-final would lift her back inside the top 20. "It happens to a lot of players, you know, when they hit this, I guess, mid-career crisis," Petrova said.

"It was tough. It was very tough, and you really need to have the right people around you to help you get out of it." A twice French Open semi-finalist, she blames the monotony of being a tennis professional. "If you're there on your own it seems so tough," she said. * Reuters