Kuznetsova Loses but Climbs to WTA Number 3
Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova conceded to Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova in the final of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells on Saturday. However, the Russian will go up to number three in the WTA rankings this week, her highest career rating.
After Vera Zvonareva crashed world number one Maria Sharapova, all stakes were on second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian, however, did not find the way to overcome the Slovakian, whose only tour success came five years ago at the same event.
Daniela Hantuchova broke early in the first set, leading 2-0. Although she let her advantage slip, another break allowed her to take the set. One break in the second set, and the 23-year-old wrapped a victory – 6-3 6-4.
“I had exactly the same feeling like I had against Martina [Hingis] in 2002,” Hantuchova said, referring to her first WTA win which also happened in Indian Wells. “Not for one second did I not believe in myself. I was just so confident from the first point, and I didn’t really think about the score.”
Svetlana Kuznetsova admitted that there was nothing that could stop the Slovakian that day: “I was too far behind to win the match.”
Still, the final match in Indian Wells has moved the Russian up to number three, ahead of Amelie Mauresmo and behind Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin.
In the men’s draw, world number two Rafael Nadal took his first title since last year’s Rolland Garros with a 6-2 7-5 win over Novak Djokovic.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 19, 2007
|
