Kuznetsova Flies High over Sharapova for Miami Crown
Posted on April 2, 2006The confidence is back for Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has struggled mentally to come to terms with seeing herself as a top player since her surprising run to the US Open title in 2004.
On Monday Kuznetsova will reappear in the Top 10 on the WTA Rankings after her Saturday win in the championship match at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami. The No. 12 seed utilized her forehand-heavy game to perfection in breaking down No. 4-seeded favorite Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3.
During the week Sharapova was more notable for the debut of her "Nike Speed Corset" outfit, a form-fitting two-piece with a short black skirt and tight corseted top, than her struggling play against non-Top 20-seeded players in Miami.
Kuznetsova on the other hand rode into the final on a confidence-building wave of wins over former No. 1 Martina Hingis, and current world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
The crowd warmed more toward Kuznetsova than the "global brand" Sharapova, who drew boos during her semifinal match with Tatiana Golovin when she requested a bathroom break at a critical time in the match, and showed no remorse when her opponent lay crying on the court with torn ligaments in her ankle.
Kuznetsova went up a break early in both sets during a final where the compact tank-like figure of Kuznetsova dominantly roamed the baseline. Sharapova made a brief comeback in the opening set from 2-5 to 4-5, but Kuznetsova ended the comeback with some sterling baseline play and some Sharapova unforced errors on the forehand.
"I don't know what went wrong," an irritated Sharapova said after the match. "What did go wrong?...She probably forced the errors, she made me go for bigger shots."
The loss meant Sharapova failed to join an elite two-person club comprised of Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters, players who have won the Indian Wells and Miami events back-to-back in the same year.
"Obviously, I felt a little tired but that's normal after playing four straight weeks," Sharapova said. "I mean, I'm not gonna feel great. My body's not gonna feel great. That's absolutely normal. But I just have to give it all I had, and I tried. But, you know, at the end of the day, just come up short. That's all right."
Kuznetsova also became the first Russian player to hold aloft the Miami singles trophy, and says she is excited to be over the hump.
"I was just working with psychologists, I was working on myself, with many doctors, with people," Kuznetsova said. "I was just playing my matches, and I see if I play the right game I can make it. I'm just very excited about that. I hope to improve every match in more tournaments."
On Monday Kuznetsova will reappear in the Top 10 on the WTA Rankings after her Saturday win in the championship match at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami. The No. 12 seed utilized her forehand-heavy game to perfection in breaking down No. 4-seeded favorite Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3.
During the week Sharapova was more notable for the debut of her "Nike Speed Corset" outfit, a form-fitting two-piece with a short black skirt and tight corseted top, than her struggling play against non-Top 20-seeded players in Miami.
Kuznetsova on the other hand rode into the final on a confidence-building wave of wins over former No. 1 Martina Hingis, and current world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
The crowd warmed more toward Kuznetsova than the "global brand" Sharapova, who drew boos during her semifinal match with Tatiana Golovin when she requested a bathroom break at a critical time in the match, and showed no remorse when her opponent lay crying on the court with torn ligaments in her ankle.
Kuznetsova went up a break early in both sets during a final where the compact tank-like figure of Kuznetsova dominantly roamed the baseline. Sharapova made a brief comeback in the opening set from 2-5 to 4-5, but Kuznetsova ended the comeback with some sterling baseline play and some Sharapova unforced errors on the forehand.
"I don't know what went wrong," an irritated Sharapova said after the match. "What did go wrong?...She probably forced the errors, she made me go for bigger shots."
The loss meant Sharapova failed to join an elite two-person club comprised of Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters, players who have won the Indian Wells and Miami events back-to-back in the same year.
"Obviously, I felt a little tired but that's normal after playing four straight weeks," Sharapova said. "I mean, I'm not gonna feel great. My body's not gonna feel great. That's absolutely normal. But I just have to give it all I had, and I tried. But, you know, at the end of the day, just come up short. That's all right."
Kuznetsova also became the first Russian player to hold aloft the Miami singles trophy, and says she is excited to be over the hump.
"I was just working with psychologists, I was working on myself, with many doctors, with people," Kuznetsova said. "I was just playing my matches, and I see if I play the right game I can make it. I'm just very excited about that. I hope to improve every match in more tournaments."