Very tough match the one won by Maria against Nadia Petrova from Russia. Maria was very comfortable in the first set, taken 61 due a high level of play. Different story in the second set; Petrova ahead 40 after breaking twice Maria. Maria recovered with authority up to 44, then dropped a service game and Petrova held her service to take the set 64. Maria again 02 down at the beginning of the third set: then match suspended due to rain and I stopped watching tv because for me it was already in the middle of the night. No feeling about what happened after, till I read this morning the final result on this site. Therefore, no feeling about which condition and degree of shape showed by Maria. I suppose she had to battle a lot. But, all well what ends well. Eventually, good time in New York. 

Congratulations, Maria! 

Take care of yourself.                           Giorgio from Italy