Andrea Petkovic is in for tough quarter-final against Kaia Kanepi on Thursday at the Brisbane InternationalYou can watch and bet on Petkovic v Kanepi live for free at bet365 > live tennisAndrea Petkovic is struggling with a back injury at the moment, but she remains in the main draw of this year’s Brisbane International. The German was involved in a tricky contest against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in round two, but she found her feet in the second set to clinch a 7-6(2), 6-0 win. She’ll be up against Kaia Kanepi in the last eight.
Remarking on her injury, Petkovic said, "It's bothering me on the serve because I can't get 'pop' on my serve. I'm serving more slice and percentage serves. I can't really go for aces. But it's getting better and my movement is fine from the baseline. Hopefully I get a day off tomorrow to rest it."
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how Petkovic holds out. She required two painkillers before her showdown with Zahlavova Strycova, and another two immediately after the 80 minute first set.
"I played a little stupid in the first set I have to admit. I played really one-dimensional. I tried to force the point, play flat, just boom, boom, boom. She's a clever player with all the shots, changing up the pace and moving well. So playing one-dimensional is the worst you could do. That's what I did. Then my coach came out and put my head in the right spot and I started to change the rhythm, give her high balls, wait for the shot."
Kanepi will provide a difficult challenge for the injured German. She thrashed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-3 in round two, and a similar display will put her in with a big chance. Petkovic’s injury could have a major say in how this match pans out.
