Boosted by impressive victories over Svetlana Kuznetsova and ex-world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne,
Lucie Safarova got off to a dream start in the final of the Paris Open against Nadia Petrova. The Czech
stormed ahead by a set and a break and then hit the buffers, losing six games in a row. Unable to wrest
the momentum back again, Safarova lost the deciding set but will take plenty of consolation from
this week's ranking lists. She has moved up to 26, equalling her highest-ever ranking.
Safarova caused a sensation last month at the Australian Open when she stunned the defending champion and
second seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-3 in the fourth round. Despite losing to fellow Czech Nicole Vaidisova
in the quarter-finals, her ranking soared from No. 70 to No. 31.
Safarova started 2006 with a bang, capturing her third and biggest title at the Tier III event in Gold
Coast, Australia, knocking out defending champion Patty Schnyder along the way. Despite reaching her
first Tier II semi-final at Amelia Island, the early promise evaporated in a run of first round defeats.
Currently the girlfriend of top 20 player Tomas Berdych, Safarova started playing tennis at the age of three.
Her father, Milan, guided her progress in the early years, but she is now coached by Jaroslav Bulant.
A fan of Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport during her childhood, the left-hander has developed a huge
forehand. She broke through in 2005, winning titles at Estoril on clay and Forest Hills (hardcourt).
She speaks Czech, German and English and enjoys watching comedy movies, playing basketball, swimming and
table tennis.
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