UAE | General
Kuznetsova sends Majoli packing
From one Grand Slam winner to another. That's what staring 17-year-old Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova right in her face after she brushed aside Iva Majoli of Croatia 7-6, 6-2 in the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open on a windy night at the Dubai Tennis Stadium yesterday.
- By A Sports Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 18, 2003
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Kuznetsova, who is to partner tennis legend Martina Navratilova in today's first round doubles match on centre court, will have the grim task of now taking on another Grand Slam winner, Jennifer Capriati in her second round match here.
But Kuznetsova's victory yesterday against Majoli was creditable as she was much stronger in her approach and resolve against her Croatian opponent.
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| Svetlana Kuznetsova in action. ©Gulf News |
"I was not aware of the score during the match. I was concentrating too much on how to keep the ball in play and then see how she can respond to all that I was sending across," Kuznetsova said.
There was very little the 1997 French Open winner could respond to from her Russian opponent.
Leading 3-2 in the first set, Kuznetsova saw Majoli go in for the kill breaking her in the ninth game and lead 5-4. But Majoli bungled at this moment as Kuznetsova broke her serve in the very next game to draw level 5-5.
Majoli had a second opportunity to take the set as she broke the Russian to lead 6-5. But a series of unforced errors handed over a break to Kuznetsova as she went on to win the tie-breaker and the set to take a vital lead.
The second set was a one-way contest with Kuznetsova breaking Majoli's resonance in the fifth game to lead 3-2. She repeated her feat in the seventh to come within a step of an upset at 5-2. She then knocked off an ace to wrap up the game in 83 minutes.
"I think I just took it point by point. And that's how it is going to be against Jennifer Capriati as well. I will show what I am capable of against her. I am relishing a game against her," Kuznetsova said.
Results:
First round (Singles): Francesca Schiavone bt Tatiana Panova 6-4, 6-0; Lina Krasnoroutskaya bt Adriana Serrazanetti 6-3, 6-0; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Iva Majoli 7-6, 6-2.
First round (Doubles): Caroline Dhenin/Tatiana Poutchek bt Evie Dominikovic/Jelena Kostanic 6-2, 4-6, 7-6.
Final round qualifiers: Anca Barna bt Claudine Schaul 6-3, 6-0; Petra Mandula bt Sandra Kleinova 7-5, 6-1; Dinara Safina bt Rosanne Neffa De Los Rios 7-6, 6-3; Gala Leon Garcia bt Arantxa Parra 6-1, 6-2.
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