Pierce, Petrova take different paths in injury comeback matches (Roundup)

By Bill Scott Aug 3, 2006, 6:21 GMT

Carlsbad, California - Holder Mary Pierce made a fighting return after six months away while fellow former injury absentee Nadia Petrova was cut down by a fellow Russian Wednesday at the Acura Classic.

Pierce struggled for more than two and a half hours before finally squeezing to a 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-4) opening victory over Austrian Sybille Bammer.

The sixth seed was playing for the first time since February after suffering a right foot partial tendon tear. Her last match was the Paris indoor final, which she lost to Amelie Mauresmo.

'It was fun to compete, I can't remember when I was so happy and excited to be back on court playing again,' said Pierce, a10-year veteran of the tournament. 'I competed really well, my game felt OK.'

The Frenchwoman had to struggle after missing a chance to close out a straight-sets win as she went wrong on three match points.

'In the second set, my energy level dropped. But I was doing the best with what I had. I need matches and training, the US Open is my goal,' she said.

Petrova was playing after missing the grass court season with a hip problem. She showed her lack of form in a defeat by fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

'I couldn't do anything, it was all errors for me,' lamented Petrova, who last competed in the first round at the French Open in late May. Chakvetadze, ranked 31st, was glad to go through in any case.

'I know she didn't play her best match, but I'll still take the win,' said the 19-year-old from Moscow.

Top seed Kim Clijsters crushed Australian Samantha Stosur 6-1, 6-2 in a pro forma win after starting her summer cement season with the Stanford title last weekend.

It took just 53 minutes for the Belgian to prevail as she won her 33rd match of the season.

   Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva got on and off court with efficiency in a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of American Ashley Harkleroad while Slovak 11th seed Daniela Hantuchova beat Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-2, 6-4.

Two Serbs won through, with 14th seed Ana Ivanovic putting out 33- year-old American Amy Frazier 6-3, 6-2, and Jelena Jankovic stopping Alana Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

Russia's Vera Zvonareva advanced when Chinese Shuai Peng was unable to continue with heat exhaustion, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

'I could see she was having problems with the heat,' said Zvonareva, winner of two titles since June including Cincinnati last month. 'I felt fine and wasn't' thinking about the weather.

'I couldn't tell any difference in her game, since she goes for all of her shots and plays aggressive on every ball.'

Zvonareva plays in the third round Thursday against second-seeded Russian compatriot Maria Sharapova, with the pair level at two wins each.

But their last meeting came two years ago in the Los Angeles WTA Championships, where Sharapova won in round robin play.

India's Sania Mirza scored the day's only upset as she defeated 15th seed Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).