Following the advices of coach Eric Van Harpen, Russian star Maria Kirilenko has been working hard on her clay court game and it seems this work is providing great results. A month ago she won her first title on clay in Estoril, and this week she has captured another title in Barcelona. Moreover, she's back in the Top 20 and has reached her career-high ranking this week at #19.
On her way to the final she had to defeat experienced players such as Lilia Osterloh and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, last year runner-up Edina Gallovits and new spanish sensation and Roland Garros quarter-finalist Carla Suarez, which was the only one taking a set from her. Kirilenko felt more confortable as the week passed and captured the title with an impressive 6/0 6/2 win over Maria Jose Martinez in the final.
It seems that Maria doesn't want to be just a pretty face and a promising player anymore, although she still lacks a remarkable performance in a Grand Slam, where a 4th round in this year's Australian Open is her best result.
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