Breakers win again

NEWPORT BEACH -- The Newport Beach Breakers had Russian Nadia Petrova

for about three hours Saturday night, but she made the most of her

first-ever stint in World Team Tennis.

Petrova, ranked No. 8 in women’s doubles and No. 12 in singles,

made the most of her one WTT match this season, contributing to

victorious teams in women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed

doubles for the Breakers (7-2), who breezed through the visiting

Kansas City Explorers at the Palisades Tennis Club.

The Breakers didn’t lose a set after defeating host St. Louis

Friday night, 24-21.

“The players were tired from the trip to St. Louis,” Breakers

Coach Dick Leach said. “They fought their hearts out in St. Louis.

Our team is trying really hard right now.

“It helps with [Petrova] here, because mixed doubles and women’s

doubles are our two weakest areas. Nadia is ranked No. 12 in the

world, but she didn’t play 20% of how good she is [Saturda].”

Petrova took the place of Wimbledon singles champion and fellow

Russia Maria Sharapova, who backed out of Saturday’s match earlier

this week to rest for the remainder of her schedule.

Leach used the 5-foot-10 Petrova instead of Aniko Kapros, who is

8-0 in women’s singles this season, and the Russian responded with a

5-2 victory over Silvija Talaja in the night’s final match.