2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova blasted 59 winners in 3 sets of play against 16 winners by 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and lost 2-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3) in the fourth round in New York City last night. Unfortunately, the Russian had 63 unforced errors to the Dane's 25.Clearly, the result of the match was on Kuznetsova's racquet; in fact she was up an early break in the third set but managed to lose that advantage and did well to save several match points and force a deciding set tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker Kuznetsova was very streaky again. She lost the first three points, then won the next three points and then lost the last four points and the match.
Kuznetsova was blasting the ball on both sides in the first set, completely overpowering Wozniacki. Starting in the second set she would blast the ball occasionally but when she started missing she curtailed this strategy, which was working for her. Wozniacki did well to stay focussed and defended well to maker her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, where she will face Melanie Oudin, the youngest American quarterfinalist since Serena Williams in 1999.
But did you watch the meltdown that Gael Monfils did against Rafa? I swear Gael's major problem is his head, and the ability to use it. He has the physical skills, but shot selection is horrendous at times.
ReplyDeleteAwaiting Raja/Rafa final.