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Hantuchova Out-Chokes Russian Kuznetsova to Drop WTA Eastbourne TitleView Comments (1) | View Discussions
Posted on June 20, 2004
 Russian teenager Svetlana Kuznetsova won her first title of the year Saturday, coming back from a set down to beat wildcard Daniela Hantuchova 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 at the Hastings Direct International Championship in Eastbourne.
Hantuchova served for the match in the second set against the No. 2-seeded Russian but could not put the clamps on. It was Kuznetsova's first title this year in her fourth final.
"I was very nervous in the match and my first serve was not working, but finally I got it to work and then I did well," Kuznetsova said. "I'm so happy to have won today. I've been in so many finals this year, but haven't won, so it's was important to me to win one of them."
In doubles the unseeded Aussie/Spaniard team of Alicia Molik and Magui "Don't Call Me Maggie" Serna ousted top-seeded Russians Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva 6-4, 6-4 for their first title as a team. The Russian have won two titles in eight finals in 2004.
In 's-Hertogenbosch Saturday, No. 3 seeded Mary Pierce won two matches to claim the title, finishing No. 8 seed Lina Krasnoroutskaya in the rain-delayed semifinal before taking out unseeded Klara "Kouky" Koukalova in straight sets in the final. It was the first title for Pierce since the 2000 French Open, and her career-first on grass.
"I enjoy the grass more and more, as I used to not like it very much," Pierce said. "But I feel more comfortable on it and it fits my game, especially since I know what to do now and how to play on it."
Kouky was making her fourth appearance in a final and falls to 0-4 in career WTA Tour singles finals.
In the doubles final the No. 2-seeded Aussie/Venezuelan team of Lisa McShea/Milagros Sequera beat unseeded Jelena Kostanic/Claudine Schaul 7-6(3), 6-3 for their third title of the year.
ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
Guillermo Coria, who before this week hadn't won a career ATP match on grass, won two more Saturday to reach the final at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. Coria beat grass-veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement early Saturday in straight sets in a quarterfinal postponed from the previous day, then went on to defeat Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 to reach the final.
"To be in a grasscourt final is something fantastic for me, I'd never expected this," Coria said. "To have a title on grass would add something to my career."
Baby Goran had beaten Martin Verkerk in the other quarterfinal match that was rained out Friday.
In the final Coria will face wildcard Frenchman Michael Llodra, who pounded No. 4 seed Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2. Coria has beaten Llodra in both their career match-ups.
Between rain delays at Nottingham, top-seeded Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan made a stunning comeback to defeat Swedish qualifier Thomas Johansson 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 for his first title of the year.
"I don't know how I came back to win that match," The Thai Fighter said. "One thing I know is I tried to enjoy myself during the final. Johansson played great in the first set and in the second he was up a break and serving for
the match at 5-3. I thought it was going to be a quick day for me."
In the doubles final the top-seeded Aussie team of Paul Hanley/Todd Woodbridge beat No. 3-seeded Americans Rick Leach/Brian MacPhie for their first title of the year.
NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian was forced to withdraw on Saturday with an abdominal muscle tear...Andy Roddick is hoping his net play at Wimbledon will make up for his weak wing, the backhand: "My backhand now as opposed to two years ago, it almost feels like night and day. I have a lot more confidence in it. But coming into this grasscourt season, I really wanted to try to do something with my volleys a little more. That's what I've been concentrating on, not just putting them in play. If I'm going to miss them, miss them aggressively or make them aggressively."...Hey ESPN, here's a "storyline" to insert during your Wimbledon coverage somewhere between all the tapes of Serena -- with all the current injuries to the Top 10 players on both the men's and women's sides due to the advent of the racquet technology, forcing players to react quicker, etc., why hasn't the ATP or WTA done anything to address this? We know both tours are reactionary rather than pro-active, but will they wait until a slam comes around when the entire Top 10 are injured to do something? Discuss...Goran Ivanisevic is ready to play his first, and what could possibly be his last match next week at Wimbledon: "I want to end this career in a good way. I hope I don't get injured before, because I can get injured getting out of bed, you know. I'm a special person. With me you never know, so I have to be careful. There's always three Gorans in there: Good One, Bad One, and Emergency One, and they're going to show up at Wimbledon. With me, you never know."...Martina Navratilova has picked Amelie Mauresmo to win the Wimbledon title -- wrong...Serena sez: "It feels great to be back and to know at 1 p.m. on Tuesday I will be playing my first match," Serena said on her official website. "It's exciting and there's nothing to beat that feeling. I've been spending the week practicing in the hot sun in Florida. We're relaxed."
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