Petrova looks forward after 2006 low point

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 8 (Reuters) - Russia's Nadia Petrova has clear-cut goals for this season after reaching a crisis point midway through last year.

The Moscow native piled up five WTA titles in 2006 on her way to a career-high ranking of third but her confidence was severely rocked by an injury shortly before the French Open.

''That was the worst mental experience of my career,'' fourth seed Petrova told Reuters yesterday as she prepared for this week's Pacific Life Open.

''There was a moment when I lost the faith that I would be able to come back.'' After claiming four titles in an exceptional start to the year, Petrova suffered a hip injury during practice for the French Open where she was rated among the favourites.

Seeded third, she lost in the opening round at Roland Garros and withdrew from the grass-court season that followed as her hip strain lingered and struggled early on in her comeback.

''I had really felt strong enough to do well in the French Open and maybe even win it,'' said the 24-year-old claycourt specialist.

''A lot of people were expecting me to do perform well and I felt I was just a step away from achieving one of my dreams, one of my goals, before that injury really knocked me out.

''When I came back, I was thinking I would be able to play the same tennis because I could just picture it in my head. But when I came back, it was completely different.'' LOSING RUN Petrova was beaten four times in a row in the opening round of hardcourt events before she ended her losing run by reaching the third round of the US Open.

''It was very disappointing, and I kept thinking why these things were happening,'' she said. ''I got really down on myself and I needed help from a lot of people to help me get out of it.'' Petrova gradually regained confidence and form before winning her fifth singles title of the season in Stuttgart.

She went on to claim the seventh WTA title of her career at last month's Paris Open.

Although 2006 was, by some distance, the most productive season of her career, she does not plan to reflect on past glories.

''I don't like looking back, I want to do other things better,'' said Petrova, who has a bye into the second round at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

''If I am putting my 100 percent effort into every match at every tournament, I believe with my abilities I can do much more than I did last year.'' Asked what lessons she had learned from last year, she replied: ''About winning and being able to handle the pressure at important moments and also how to accept losing, which is very difficult for most players.

''If I lose, I try to forget about it as quickly as possible, enjoy the next couple of days and try to find motivation for the next tournament.'' Petrova did not hesitate when asked to pinpoint her goals for 2007.

''I would love to end up in the top five and win a grand slam singles title this year,'' she said.

REUTERS SAM VC0955