Top 10 Russian Seeds Kuznetsova, Chakvetadze Bounced at Australian Open
Posted on January 19, 2008
World No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova has never been a mental model of fortitude, so it raised eyebrows at the beginning of the year when she announced she would skip Fed Cup duties for Russia in an effort to overtake Justine Henin for the No. 1 ranking.
Cracks showed in her veneer earlier this week when she admitted to getting tight in matches against lesser opponents. On Saturday at the Australian Open her fragile mental state imploded in a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.
"This is a pretty tough loss because I think I've been in the best shape ever in Australian Open, and I just didn't make it work," Kuznetsova said. "It's pretty simple. I think I beat myself up out there, so I didn't do much right things. I was not playing against her, I was playing against me."
The rising Polish star also knocked out Maria Sharapova in last year's US Open.
"Both matches I had nothing to lose. Just play and try my best and I did it twice," Radwanska said. "I'm very excited and happy. I lost against [Kuznetsova] a few times already."
Russian No. 27 seed Maria Kirilenko finally broke through to the fourth round of a Slam Saturday, upsetting No. 6 seed Anna Chakvetadze 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-2.
"I have beaten a couple of good players in the Top 10 but usually I'm losing every time in the first round in Grand Slams," Kirilenko said. "It's good I broke this tradition here, so I'm quite happy. I'm working really hard and now everything's coming together and I'm starting to play better."
No. 8 seed Venus Williams survived a tougher-than-expected meeting with the oft-erratic slugger and No. 31-seeded Indian Sania Mirza 7-6(0), 6-4, and No. 4 Ana Ivanovic put down No. 28 seed Katarina Srebotnik 6-3, 6-4.
"I was really nervous in the first round," said Ivanovic, in the second week of the Australian Open for the first time. "I tried to find my game, and struggle a bit, but since then I really tried to focus on each point separately and not to think too much emotionally about it. I really performed well and I'm really happy to reach the second week, because that was my goal coming into this tournament. But now, everything is possible. I had good wins and my serve is getting better, and I just want to keep this level."
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