Kuznetsova earns her sweet revenge

The second and third seeds were sent packing on day four of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as a highly-competitive ladies’ draw threw up some notable scalps.

Russian Vera Zvonareva, who was ranked second here, fell to compatriot – and 15^th seed – Alisa Kleybanova 6-3, 6-2, while another pre-tournament favourite, Francesca Schiavone, of Italy, lost 6-1, 0-6, 5-7 to Svetlana Kuznetsova.

It was the first time the latter pair had met since contesting the second-longest match ever in women’s tennis history in the Australian Open last month, when Schiavone prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 16-14.

This time though, it was to be Kuznetsova who was to emerge victorious in spite of the best efforts of her 30-year-old opponent, who characteristically saved six match points before finally succumbing to defeat.

“I understood I could win this match, even after being 6-1 down in the first set,” Kuznetsova said of her swift reversal of fortune against the third seed.

“I knew this court is fast and that it’s better for me to play Francesca on this kind of court because – like this – she didn’t have time. I mean I can hit the ball faster.

“I knew, if I play a little bit better in the second set, I start to move and be a little bit more positive, I can turn things around and I did it.

“I’m doing better and I am happy on the court. I’ve started to play spin shots and turn my forehand to control the game because – if I start to play ‘ping-pong’ tennis, I have no control over the matches.”

Zvonareva meanwhile highlighted a conducive court for Kleybanova’s heavy-hitting style, which varied considerably to the approach adopted by her second-round adversary, Roberta Vinci, for a surprising reverse.

“It wasn’t my day and I didn’t play too good,” she added.

“It was probably one of my worst matches in a while.

“She’s a tough opponent – so if you’re not playing at a high level – it’s very difficult to beat her. She’s definitely a powerful player and played a very consistent and good match.

“I found that the ball was flying a little bit and Wednesday’s match against Roberta (Vinci) was totally different. She’s (Roberta’s) a tricky player, who plays different shots, and I had time to execute my shots and play different ones as well.

“I had an absolutely different opponent today, with a different – and very powerful – style of play.

“To handle that pace, I was trying to put on the pace as well and I felt my ball was flying a lot and I had a lot of unforced errors.

“That caused me a lot of trouble and I couldn’t readjust. I felt like I was a little bit late.

I was seeing the ball well, but my feet and hands weren’t adjusting. I didn’t have control on the ball and couldn’t make the rallies very long.

“But, it’s a part of the game that sometimes you have these kinds of days. I’ll have to think about – and analyze – it, so I can improve and do better next week (in Doha).”

alex@khaleejtimes.com