Pervak continues recent rise in Baku

 

Originally published on: 21/07/11 10:45

Ksenia Pervak continued her breakthrough season by reaching her second straight WTA quarter-final in Baku.

The 20-year-old Moscow resident, who has virtually halved her ranking since the turn of the year, is now set to crack the top 50 after defeating fellow Russian Vesna Dolonts at the inaugural Baku Cup in Azerbaijan for her second last eight berth in succession.

Pervak first came onto the scene when she defeated Britain’s Laura Robson to win the Australian Open girls’ singles final in 2009. This June, the 5’7” left-hander surpassed the first round in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon after taking the scalps of Shahar Peer and world No.13 Andrea Petkovic.

After collecting the $110,000 prize for reaching the last sixteen at the All England Club, Pervak promptly reached the semi-finals at her very next tournament in Bad Gastein, but was whitewashed 6-0 6-0 at the hands of  Patricia-Mayr Achleitner. Undettered, the youngster quickly picked herself up in Azerbaijan this week and Pervak – who also reached the last eight in Memphis and Monterrey – booked a clash with Aravane Rezai and her fourth quarter-final spot of the season.

Elsewhere at the tournament, fellow Russians Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and top seed Vera Zvonareva will play their second round battles at the inaugural $220,000 tournament later today.

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