By TERRY MADDAFORD
Tatiana Panova's tennis career takes her to all points from her Moscow home, but rarely does she play anyone shorter than herself.
But any lack of height - she reaches 1.54m (5ft) - is compensated for by power that at times blasts her opponents off the court.
Panova, the ASB Bank Classic's fifth seed, beat American Jennifer Hopkins 6-4, 6-2 on an outer court yesterday to win through to today's quarter-finals and a clash with third seed Anne Kremer.
The 25-year-old, a four-time loser at the Gold Coast tournament played at the same time as Auckland each year, decided to kick off her year this side of the Tasman.
Panova built up her strength at a physical academy in Moscow and chases the ball relentlessly. There are no easy points here.
Down 2-0 against Hopkins, she fought back to lead 4-2, then slipped to 4-4, but after 45 minutes on court served the set out.
Ahead 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 in the second set, the Russian rocket cruised home.
"I have to work hard," admitted Panova. "I just like to play. I don't care where."
Panova still calls Russia home and prefers to return there rather than spend more time in the United States.
"I practise sometimes in Miami but I like Russia," she said. "Moscow is my home, although in winter it is hard to practise there.
"Tennis is very popular. We now have six or seven players on the women's tour."
Anna Kournikova is the face of Russian women's tennis worldwide, but Panova says she is not such a superstar in her own country.
"She does not spend much time in Russia. There are more famous names at home."
Of the eight Russians ranked in the world's top 75, Kournikova at 74 is the lowest. Panova at 40 is fifth.
As a country, Russia remains one of the strongest tennis-playing nations.
Leading men's player Marat Safin, the top seed for next week's Heineken Open, is ranked 11 on the ATP Tour. Yevgeny Kafelnikov is fourth.
Elena Dementieva and Kournikova have both been in the top 10 in the past year on the women's tour.
Panova and Kournikova - on opposite sides of the draw - are now through to the last eight and could give their country just its second singles title in the 42-year tournament history. Leila Meskhi, in 1990, is Russia's only previous winner.
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