News

April 25, 2012

Svetlana Kuznetsova's hope of ending a 20-month title drought at the Grand Prix De Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem were dashed on Wednesday as injury forced her to retire from her second round match with Irina-Camelia Begu.

The left thigh injury brought a premature conclusion to what was turning out to be an entertaining encounter. When No.2 seed Kuznetsova breezed thorugh the opening set and raced 5-2 ahead in the second, the result appeared a foregone conclusion.

However, it was at this point that Begu decided to stage the unlikeliest of comebacks, capitalizing on Kuznetsova's inhibited movement after an injury timeout to win the next four games - and saving match point at 5-4 - before nicking the set on a tie-break.

The decider, wich opened up with an early exchange of breaks, looked te be heading for another exciting finish, only for Kuznetsova's injury to end the contest with Begu leading, 1-6 7-6 (4) 3-2.

"It was tough, " Begu said. "She was ahead by a set and 5-2 and only then I started to play. I was fighting for every ball and I think that was the key to my comeback.

"She wasn't moving so well after the injury and I tried to move her about and I started to have some succes with this. O'm happy to win, bit it's also sad for Sveta and I hope she will recover quickly."

(www.wtatennis.com)

April 24, 2012

Recovering from a dramatic weekend of Fed Cup action, No 2. seed Svetlana Kuznetsova made it through to the second round of the Grand Prix de Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem on Tuesday.

Kuznetsova beat Ana Ivanovic on Saturday but fell to Jelena Jankovic on Sunday in a match that could have extended Russia's semifinal loss to Serbia to a fifth and deciding match. Nevertheless she defeated Eleni Daniilidou, 6-1 7-5, in het Fes opener. However, she had to rally from a 5-2, two-break deficit in a second set that included a set point for Daniilidou.

"It was tough because Fed Cup was indoor and i was really tired," Kuznetsova said. "I had a little bit of trouble in my movement and concentration in the second set, but i'm happy to get through in two sets."

The only previous time Kuznetsova played this event was in 2001, when it was held about 150 miles away in Casablanca. In fact she made her first career semifinal what week.

"This is my forst clay court outdoor tournament of the year, so i'm looking forward getting some matches in," Kuznetsova said.

(www.wtatennis.com)