Russia's Petrova shaking off mid-career blues

In this file photo Nadia Petrova of Russia reacts during her match against Canada's Marie-Eve Pelletier at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal, July 29, 2008. She has earned more than $6 million (3.4 million pounds) in prize money, lives in Monte Carlo and travels the world as a pampered tennis professional, but still Petrova is not immune to career crises.

BALI, Indonesia (Reuters) - She has earned more than $6 million (3.4 million pounds) in prize money, lives in Monte Carlo and travels the world as a pampered tennis professional, but still Nadia Petrova is not immune to career crises.

Despite enjoying all the trappings of a touring pro, the 26-year-old hankers after some of the simpler things in life -- a normal social life, fun and occasionally doing "crazy things".

"It's what we do for a living, but it's not what we live for," she said of the sport that has made her rich.

The former world number three plummeted in the rankings after failing to win a match in six of her first seven tournaments this year, crediting it to a mid-career crisis.

She eventually got back on track at Eastbourne, where she reached the final, following that up with a Wimbledon quarter-final before claiming her eighth career title in Cincinnati last month.

The 26-year-old Russian is seeded fourth at the Bali Classic this week, where a semi-final would lift her back inside the top 20.

"It happens to a lot of players, you know, when they hit this, I guess, mid-career crisis," Petrova told Reuters.

"It was tough. It was very tough, and you really need to have the right people around you to help you get out of it."

A twice French Open semi-finalist, she blames the monotony of being a tennis professional, yearning for more time to enjoy life off the court.

"If you're there on your own it seems so tough, so difficult and you start questioning if you can do it again, if you want to take this challenge again.

"It took me a while to figure out what I really want, because I thought about taking a break from tennis," she said, crediting coach Matias Polonsky for her improved fitness and motivation.

Petrova became disillusioned at being unable to lead a normal social life. Dating has had to take a back seat to the demands of a career that means she is rarely at home.

"It can be very lonely and it's really a lot of pressure," she said. "I think it has to do a lot with us being girls and there's a lot for us happening off court.

"Or maybe not happening at all, and we're not happy with that either, so it's not that easy. Because you shouldn't think that tennis is our life."

She was unhappy her tight training schedule has stopped her from enjoying her visit to Bali, a popular Indonesian holiday destination.

"We want to have a proper social life and do sometimes some crazy things instead of thinking you have to be in bed a particular time.

"You just want to experience life, have fun."

(Editing by N.Ananthanarayanan)