Kuznetsova Wins Second Rounder at Site of Greatest Triumph
By Ed McGrogan
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has played in Arthur Ashe
Stadium before, but today was her first match on the famed court since
the final three years ago against Elena Dementieva.
Her second-round contest against Camille Pin was expected to be a simple
test for the fourth-ranked Russian, but Kuznetsova needed to go three
sets before winning, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. Looking at the score and judging by
her play, Svetlana just needed to get reacquainted with the surroundings
before getting into a comfort zone.
The match’s first two sets featured not only a battle between two
players, but more specifically, was a battle of two shots. Kuznetsova’s
two-handed backhand was her preferred groundstroke, which often resulted
in winners (she had 46 on the day). On the opposite side of the net, Pin
relied on her great speed and defense to put everything back in play,
making Svetlana work exceptionally hard for each point.
“She makes you play every ball," Kuznetsova said. "She makes you play
uncomfortable shots. She has a very smart game. You have to be really
focused every ball.”
Svetlana prevailed in the first set, thanks in large part to her backhand.
But another factor in the outcome was Kuznetsova’s return of serve, which
was very effective against the slow-serving Pin. The Frenchwoman’s average
first-serve speed was only 81 mph, and she never exceeded 90 mph on the
radar gun. Kuznetsova had plenty of opportunities to tee off on Pin’s
serve, as she hit many returns that Camille had no chance of retrieving.
Svetlana looked to have the match in control during the second set, as
she was up a break at 3-2. But Pin’s agility saved her from bowing out
early, as she broke back the very next game by keeping the points going
as long as she could. Pin didn’t take the second set with winners – she
had only six the entire match – but she waited for Kuznetsova to dig her
own grave with unforced errors. In the second set, Svetlana made 19
unforced errors, allowing Pin to get back into the match despite little
offensive tennis. The second set featured five breaks of serve, but
Pin emerged, winning it 4-6 in 34 minutes.
If fans didn’t recognize the strong tennis that Kuznetsova is known
for, they finally got the chance to see it in the third set. Svetlana
played much more aggressively, rushing to the net more frequently than
in the beginning of the match. “I think I never been in my life so many
times in the net as today. And I’m pretty happy to come a lot to the
net,” Kuznetsova said. The change in strategy paid off, as Svetlana
won every game in the final set, wrapping up the match in one hour,
26 minutes.
In the post-match press conference, Kuznetsova, donning a bright blue
New York Yankees cap, spoke about the city where her greatest tennis
triumph occurred. “It’s always going to feel great. Today was my
first match since 2004 on Ashe in singles. It means a lot to me. I
feel great out there. It’s always amazing to come and play. I feel
very comfortable on that court.”
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM - Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Camille Pin FRA 3 6 0
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (4) Winner 6 4 6
Match Facts
- Pin had six winners and nine unforced errors, while Kuznetsova
had 34 winners and 46 unforced errors.
- Kuznetsova was only 47 percent on her break-point chances, but
she did break Pin seven times.
- Pin won only nine points in the final set.
- This was Pin's best performance at the US Open. She lost in the
first round for the past three years.
- Kuznetsova will play Anabel Medina Garrigues in the third round.
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