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Kuzy Beat by Chinese Player at Beijing Olympics Tennis
Posted on August 11, 2008
BEIJING, China -- With a strong showing in Beijing, Svetlana Kuznetsova could have become the fifth player this year to hold the No.1 ranking. But in front of a fired up crowd on Monday that dream came to an abrupt halt, as the world No.3 was bundled out of the tournament in her first match by Li Na.
Going into the match, Li was somewhat of an unknown quantity. She had missed the second half of last season with a right rib injury and most of the last five months with a right knee injury, and came into the Olympics ranked No.42 in the world. But her career achievements are notable: she was recently in the Top 20, the only Chinese to do that in the history of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour; she did win 15 of her first 18 matches of this season before being sidelined, going 2-2 since coming back during the grass court season; and she did have eight Top 10 wins to her name, including one over Kuznetsova.
It was the world-beater who came onto the court Monday. Kuznetsova, the No.3 seed, started off strongly, racing ahead 5-2 in the first set; but Li bounced back quickly, coming back to take the first set in a tie-break then rallying from a break down early in the second set as well to pull off a 76(5) 64 win, her ninth career Top 10 win in front of her adoring home fans.
"We were both tense because this was the first match of the Olympics for both of us," Li said. "Because I'm the one playing at home, I had lots of support behind me. My friends were sending me messages of encouragement. Even though I've had some injuries, they encouraged me to fight. It was very helpful."
Li is playing in her second Olympics, having fallen first round in Sydney in 2000 to former world No.1 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
Kuznetsova was one of three players in the running for the post-Olympics No.1 ranking, but that can't happen anymore. Although Ana Ivanovic withdrew from the tournament before playing her first match due to a right thumb injury, she can reclaim No.1 from Jelena Jankovic if Jankovic loses before the final.
-- Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
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