Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame a bout of mid-match nerves to grind down Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3 and clinch the San Diego Open on Sunday.
The Russian Kuznetsova blew four match points in the second set tiebreak to gift Radwanska the set but roared back to life in the third to take her first title in 10 months.
"I just shook," said Kuznetsova, playing in her first final of the year. "The trophy was very important to me. I was very embarrassed and I just got it back together and dictated."
Kuznetsova double faulted on two of her four match points during a second set tiebreak where she squandered leads of 4-0 and 6-3 to allow Radwanska back into the match.
The two-time grand slam champion said she had a fit during a break between the second and third sets that she said helped her to get her nerves calmed down.
"My knees were shaking and I couldn't push on my serve and now I know why people double fault on match points," Kuznetsova said. "It was very hard to close and I choked for first time in my life."
After falling behind 2-1 to start the third set, Kuznetsova grabbed control of the match from just inside the baseline with a series of winners before clinching the title with a backhand down the line.
The victory provides a timely return to form for Kuznetsova ahead of the U.S. Open, and will propel her to 14th when new rankings are released on Monday.
"To play that bad at end of the second set and then to let her come back and see me choke, I had to be twice as strong in the third set and I was," said Kuznetsova.
"It's pretty funny now that I won the match, but if I lost I might be thinking: 'should I finish playing tennis?' I doubt it will happen again."
The Russian Kuznetsova blew four match points in the second set tiebreak to gift Radwanska the set but roared back to life in the third to take her first title in 10 months.
"I just shook," said Kuznetsova, playing in her first final of the year. "The trophy was very important to me. I was very embarrassed and I just got it back together and dictated."
Kuznetsova double faulted on two of her four match points during a second set tiebreak where she squandered leads of 4-0 and 6-3 to allow Radwanska back into the match.
The two-time grand slam champion said she had a fit during a break between the second and third sets that she said helped her to get her nerves calmed down.
"My knees were shaking and I couldn't push on my serve and now I know why people double fault on match points," Kuznetsova said. "It was very hard to close and I choked for first time in my life."
After falling behind 2-1 to start the third set, Kuznetsova grabbed control of the match from just inside the baseline with a series of winners before clinching the title with a backhand down the line.
The victory provides a timely return to form for Kuznetsova ahead of the U.S. Open, and will propel her to 14th when new rankings are released on Monday.
"To play that bad at end of the second set and then to let her come back and see me choke, I had to be twice as strong in the third set and I was," said Kuznetsova.
"It's pretty funny now that I won the match, but if I lost I might be thinking: 'should I finish playing tennis?' I doubt it will happen again."
4 comments:
I consider Sveta a choker, how many winless finals have she played? All the Russians have that choke factor the exception is Divapova which I don't consider her Russian she is more American if you ask me. I did not see this match and I'm not surprise that Sveta gave away the second set. I hope it was not a choker vs. choker match, I hate those.
There have been so much hype about the Russians, but outside Sveta only Myskina have won slam titles and Myskina is the ultimate one slam wonder in my book. I'm omitting Divapova because like I said, she is more American than Russian, even Russians don't consider her Russian. I think most of Russians are mentally fragile like Vera Z. Lickitongue, Dementieva, to name a few. I think the time window for Dementieva to win a slam title is close she had her chances but guess what, she choked. BTW US Open 09 is a perfect example of choking Russians.
IMO the best example of sveta choking was 2009 Aus open QF against Serean!
I really don't think the russians are as good as what they are made out to be, and its just a over reaction, just like the fake hype about sam stosur who I believe is the most over-rated player on tour!
Good point on the Russians and Stosur. I believe the Belgians Mrs. K.C. and Henin are the most over-rated, everyone thought they would dominate when they came out from retirement. A couple of good results for Mrs. K.C. Brisbane International and Miami (won both); as for Henin, Brisbane and AO 10 final (both runner up), SF in Miami. Take away the USO 09 win and Mrs. K.C. has had an embarrassing comeback. Henin has been disappointment.
I totaly agree with you on the "come back queens" everyone said at the end of the year Justine Henin will be world number 1 or 2 now shes struggling to get top 10! especialy by missing the US Open, and her being "the queen of clay" didn't really show, well she won Stuggart, lost to Rezi in th 1st round of Madrid and lost in the 4th round of Roland Garros. And KC was injurd in the clay-court season but she just lost matches she shouldn't have AO 3rd round SHE WON 1 GAME! Indian Wells when she lost to Kleybonova, When she lost in Andalucia, I think she should have beaten Vika and she definatly should have beaten Zvonerava at Wimbledon!
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