Pavlyuchenkova doesn’t want regrets

A year ago, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova does not believe she would have won a match against Dominika Cibulkova in the manner that she did on Tuesday at Indian Wells.

The 19th seed fought for three sets against a dogged opponent in brutal heat, beating the Slovak fifth seed 6-4 3-6 6-2 to take her place in the last eight here for just the second time, and first since 2009.

“I think today it’s a good example, as well, that I have improved a lot,” she said after wrapping up victory in two hours, seven minutes.

“Probably last year or couple years ago, I would definitely lose this match. Maybe not two sets but three sets, for sure. Like, I wouldn’t be able to hold this level in two, three sets under this heat.

“And I’m making fun of myself, as well. Like, I have no problem with this. Before, I would probably tire. After one set, I would be so tired even if I won the set.

“I think today it shows, as well, that I have improved and I feel much fitter, so the third set kind of was consistent for me.”

Pavlyuchenkova is the first to admit that throughout her career she has not dedicated herself to training as fully as she perhaps could, or should, have.

She credits a productive pre-season for her impressive results in 2017, which have included other quarterfinals in Sydney and at the Australian Open.

“I just decided, I mean, for once, can you just start doing hard work? Or can you, like, finally start practicing and be serious with this?” she smiled.

“Of course, consistency of hard work, as well, because in the past I could have, like, done good work for a couple of weeks or months, but then it was like that all the time (indicating up and down) a lot of changes.

“I was going through a lot of changes with coaches, the base, like, the cities, everything. I think now I’m more consistent and more serious with that, as well.”

Where did this change in mentality stem from?

“Well, I’m 25. I’ll be 26 in July. The time is going quick, you know. Tennis life is kind of short. I feel like if it’s not now, then after it’s too late,” she said.

“I have older brother who was really good, and I would say much more talented than me, who regrets a lot now, because he was doing a lot of bad choices and stuff.

“So that also shows me that I don’t want to end up like that.”

She faces No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova – whom she has beaten twice already this season – in the last eight on Wednesday.