By Erik Gudris | Sunday, August 5, 2018
Svetlana Kuznetsova fought off four match points against Donna Vekic before winning her second D.C. title.
Photo Credit: Citi Open Twitter
Svetlana Kuznetsova once again finds herself the Citi Open champion in Washington, D.C. after fighting off four championship points against No. 7 seed Donna Vekic in Sunday’s final.
The Russian veteran, who won the title before in 2014, capped off a stellar week by taking her first title since 2016 in three sets 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. It’s a welcome return to form for Kuznetsova who struggled at the first start of the season having come back from recent wrist surgery.
But it wasn’t easy.
Kuznetsova entered the final having dropped only 14 games all week. But she found herself having to battle from behind for most of the match against her frequent hitting partner Vekic.
"I did great preparation in Miami before this tournament. I didn't let myself down after long start after the surgery. I had difficulties everywhere, I switched coaches, I had lots of issues. But still I rise again. The final was important and it was great, but of course the trophy is the cherry on the cake." Kuznetsova said in her press conference.
Vekic started out strong by often controlling many of the rallies with her better power and placement. Soon, Vekic opened up a 4-1 lead. The current World No. 44 Vekic later served for the set up 5-3. But Vekic got annoyed with Kuznetsova taking too long to get ready for a return and that disturbence led to Vekic dropping serve.
Kuznetsova herself would drop serve in the next game as she missed an overhead to hand Vekic the set 6-4.
The second set once again saw Vekic take control as she battled Kuznetsova from the baseline. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Kuznetsova was forced to save two championship points. She later served an ace to level at 5-all.
A tiebreak soon commenced with Kuznetsova opening up a 4-2 advantage. Yet the Russian couldn’t maintain her lead as Vekic stayed right with her practice partner. At 5-all, Kuznetsova double faulted going for a second serve ace. She then gave Vekic a third match point when she netted a backhand.
Kuznetsova fought off that match point with a piercing forehand winner. She then saved a fourth championship point with great baseline defense that forced a Vekic error. Finally, Kuznetsova held her first set point and clinched once again with strong defense.
Vekic took a long medical time out before the start of the final set. When both players returned, Kuznetsova looked the more confident and fitter of the two. Kuznetsova broke Vekic early and that appeared to deflate the young Croatian. Soon, Kuznetsova rolled out to a 5-0 lead.
Kuznetsova found herself broken at love when she first served for the match up 5-1. Vekic, now serving at 5-2, looked poised to make Kuznetsova try and serve it out again. But the Russian ripped a big backhand for 30-all, and that was followed by Vekic double faulting on the next point.
With her first championship point, Kuznetsova made no mistake as she clinched the comeback win for her first title of 2018, and her first title since Moscow 2016.
The trophy ceremony had the two-time major champion and Vekic reflecting on what it means to win and lose in the sport.
The victory in Washington, D.C. will help propel Kuznetsova back into the WTA top 100 after she fell outside of it post-Wimbledon. This is also her 18th career title.