Svetlana Kuznetsova Stumbles into 2007 US Open Final
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Sep 7, 2007 | Print |
The mental demons were circling around Arthur Ashe Stadium this afternoon as Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze each tried to prove that they could outlast the other’s bad nerves.
Svetlana Kuznetsova unmemorably emerged as the winner in today’s first semifinal with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory and on the way further enforced the belief that the winner of the 2007 US Open will be either Justine Henin or Venus Williams.
Six breaks of serve in just thirty-one minutes decided the first set. Chakvetadze scored the early 6-3 lead, but with a 48% first serve percentage and only one winner, it could hardly be said that she was playing her best tennis. Kuznetsova said after the match that she was “embarassed” by her own performance in the opening set.
The pendulum swung the other direction in the second set, with Chakvetadze contributing her share of nervous play. Compared to her seven winners, Chakvetadze hit three double-faults and twenty-six unforced errors.
Kuznetsova entered the match saying that she was playing some of the best tennis of her career - better even than her title run in 2004. What she displayed today bodes ill for her hopes of a second US Open title.
Although she settled down in the third set and only lost her serve one more time for a total of five breaks, she will have to play 100% better on Saturday night if she wants to deny Justine Henin or Venus Williams a second Grand Slam title of the 2007 season.
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http://blacktennispros.blogspot.com | Sep 7, 2007 | Reply
I really liked Kuznetsova when she came to fame, but she has truly been an unreliable bet. I still don’t trust her game much, but she does seem to have settled into herself a bit. You’re right about one thing in particular, whomever she plays in the final, she’s going to have to step up her game at least 100%.