K.Kravchuk outplayed Evgeniy Koroliov 6/4, 6/3 form Kazakhstan. In the second match on the central court the defending champion Dominika Cibulkova defeated the Russian Ekaterina Makarova 2/6, 6/4, 6/2. Another Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkokva is also out of the competition, she lost to Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan 2/6, 2/6.
The match featuring Nadia Petrova and Simona Halep was closing the program of the day.
Matches of the doubles draw were also played today. Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnnina outplayed Grandin/Ukhlirova (South Africa/Czech Republic) 6/0, 6/4.
Dominika Cibulkova: “I hope that this win will give me confidence”
“The surface of the court is very much different from the last year, and in the first set I haven’t been able to find my rhythm, - said Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia who beat today Ekaterina Makarova from Russia in three sets to 2/6, 6/4, 6/2. - But then I managed to get into the game, and I started playing more confident and was able to win”.
When asked about additional pressure due to last year's win at the Moscow tournament, Dominika said: "I won my first title in Moscow and I'm the first in a situation where I have to defend it. This is a really special feeling. If I lose, it will not be "the end of the world", but I really hope I can win".
“We played a lot against each other. The last time was at the Olympics and I lost there. I think that today’s win after one set down will give me much more confidence in the next round”, - said Dominika Cibulkova about the next opponent, Tsvetana Pironkova.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: ‘I had little chances today’ 16.10.2012
‘With such a game as today, I had little chances against Yaroslava [Shvedova]’, said the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after her defeat in the opening match against Yaroslava Shvedova from Kazakhstan 2/6, 2/6.
‘It’s hard to analyze today’s match. I practically hadn’t any game and I made a lot of errors at my serves. Yaroslava [Shvedova] had a good match, played aggressively, attack from the firs ball’.
When asked about the reasons of her low lever of performance, she noted: ‘I’m very tired at the end of this season. I have no energy left…I think it’s the main reason. And I had some issues with my shoulder and change of coaches’. ‘I hope next year will be better. My first goal is to play well at the Australian Open’, said Anastasia.
Press-office of the tournament
