Kuznetsova Advances to Eastbourne Quarterfinals
Posted on June 21, 2006Svetlana Kuznetsova continued her recent habit of overcoming huge deficits Tuesday. After dropping the first set of her opener at The Hastings Direct International Championships, the Russian quickly turned things around, dropping three more games in a 16 61 62 win over Ai Sugiyama.
"I started off very slowly today," said Kuznetsova, seeded No.4. "It took me a while to get used to the grass, and she's a dangerous opponent. It was similar to last year here in the first round, and I had a slow start and in my last four matches at the French, too. It took me a while to get awake."
Kuznetsova showed her come-from-behind skills during her spectacular fortnight at Roland Garros. She trailed 5-1 in the first set of her quarterfinal match (which she ended up winning in straight sets) and was down a set and 5-3 in her semifinal (which she won in three). Her runner-up finish shot her from No.10 to No.6, her highest ranking since the 2005 US Open (No.5).
The St.Petersburg, Russia resident won her first grass court title here two years ago. That week, her semifinal and final opponents both served for the match in the second set, but her refuse-to-lose attitude prevailed. After winning the singles, Kuznetsova tacked on a doubles crown with countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva. However, Kuznetsova couldn't carry her successful play to the most prestigious grass court event, Wimbledon, falling in the first round to a qualifier. She became just the second Eastbourne champion in the Open Era to go winless at Wimbledon.
2002 Eastbourne finalist Anastasia Myskina swept aside Slovakian qualifier Jarmila Gajdosova 63 60 to set up a second round match-up with Jill Craybas. No.5-seeded Myskina posted outstanding grass court results four years ago, not only reaching the finals here but also in Birmingham. Last year, the Russian was stopped here in the quarters by qualifier Roberta Vinci before making her career-first run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
"For my first match on grass, I was really happy," Myskina said. "I had a bit of a slow start, but that's normal since I've been playing on clay for so long now. It was a little windy today, but I think I handled the conditions well."
No.7 Groenefeld won her first grass court match of the season against Marion Bartoli, 26 64 62. The fast-serving German rounded out the clay court season in style two weeks ago when she reached her career-first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros. She also managed another noteworthy feat three months ago by crossing the $1 million career mark and becoming only the seventh German to do so.
Capturing her fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title in Birmingham last week, Vera Zvonareva kept her winning streak alive and edged Anna Chakvetadze 76(3) 67(2) 62. No.2 seed Kim Clijsters now awaits in the second round.
"It's great to be able to come here from Birmingham, where I had such a great week, and win another match," Zvonareva said. "It's obviously giving me a lot of confidence going in to Wimbledon. I was disappointed to lose the second set, after I had some chances to win in straight, but I'm proud of the way I pulled it all together again."
Other Tuesday winners were Craybas, Vera Dushevina, Kveta Peschke, Akiko Morigami and Shenay Perry.
-- WTA
"I started off very slowly today," said Kuznetsova, seeded No.4. "It took me a while to get used to the grass, and she's a dangerous opponent. It was similar to last year here in the first round, and I had a slow start and in my last four matches at the French, too. It took me a while to get awake."
Kuznetsova showed her come-from-behind skills during her spectacular fortnight at Roland Garros. She trailed 5-1 in the first set of her quarterfinal match (which she ended up winning in straight sets) and was down a set and 5-3 in her semifinal (which she won in three). Her runner-up finish shot her from No.10 to No.6, her highest ranking since the 2005 US Open (No.5).
The St.Petersburg, Russia resident won her first grass court title here two years ago. That week, her semifinal and final opponents both served for the match in the second set, but her refuse-to-lose attitude prevailed. After winning the singles, Kuznetsova tacked on a doubles crown with countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva. However, Kuznetsova couldn't carry her successful play to the most prestigious grass court event, Wimbledon, falling in the first round to a qualifier. She became just the second Eastbourne champion in the Open Era to go winless at Wimbledon.
2002 Eastbourne finalist Anastasia Myskina swept aside Slovakian qualifier Jarmila Gajdosova 63 60 to set up a second round match-up with Jill Craybas. No.5-seeded Myskina posted outstanding grass court results four years ago, not only reaching the finals here but also in Birmingham. Last year, the Russian was stopped here in the quarters by qualifier Roberta Vinci before making her career-first run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
"For my first match on grass, I was really happy," Myskina said. "I had a bit of a slow start, but that's normal since I've been playing on clay for so long now. It was a little windy today, but I think I handled the conditions well."
No.7 Groenefeld won her first grass court match of the season against Marion Bartoli, 26 64 62. The fast-serving German rounded out the clay court season in style two weeks ago when she reached her career-first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros. She also managed another noteworthy feat three months ago by crossing the $1 million career mark and becoming only the seventh German to do so.
Capturing her fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title in Birmingham last week, Vera Zvonareva kept her winning streak alive and edged Anna Chakvetadze 76(3) 67(2) 62. No.2 seed Kim Clijsters now awaits in the second round.
"It's great to be able to come here from Birmingham, where I had such a great week, and win another match," Zvonareva said. "It's obviously giving me a lot of confidence going in to Wimbledon. I was disappointed to lose the second set, after I had some chances to win in straight, but I'm proud of the way I pulled it all together again."
Other Tuesday winners were Craybas, Vera Dushevina, Kveta Peschke, Akiko Morigami and Shenay Perry.
-- WTA