Kulikova not sure if she wants to return home

Dubai: Russian sensation Regina Kulikova won't be in a hurry to travel home after upsetting Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets at the 2010 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

"I was born in Kazakhstan from where I went on to St Petersburg and then on to Italy and after that to Switzerland all because of my tennis. But my family still lives in St Petersburg from where Kuznetsova comes from too," Kulikova said.

"I don't know if I would be worried going back to St Petersburg now that I've beaten her," she joked. "This is one of my dream wins and I am so happy to have achieved it here," Kulikova added.

The 21-year-old Russian became only the fourth qualifier to make it to the quarterfinals during the 10-year history of this tournament.

The previous three qualifiers were Rachel McQuillan of Australia, who went all the way to the semis before falling to eventual winner Nathalie Tauziat in 2001, Lina Krasnoroutskaya of Russia, who also made the quarters in 2001, and another Russian Elena Vesnina, who lost in the last eight stages last year.

"I don't know how I won. The feeling is yet to sink in," she admitted.