By Tennis Now | Thursday, April 11, 2019
Former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova battled past home favorite Timea Bacsinszky, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, surging into the Lugano quarterfinals.
Photo credit: AFP
Svetlana Kuznetsova continues to turn the crushed red brick surface into building blocks for a strong comeback.
The two-time Grand Slam champion battled past home favorite Timea Bacsinszky, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, surging into the Lugano quarterfinals.
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Kuznetsova cracked six aces against five double faults raising her record to 5-0 against the 29-year-old Swiss.
The 2009 Roland Garros champion blew a one break lead twice in the opening set as the former world No. 9 rallied to take the opener.
Resetting, Kuznetsova roared back from a one-set, 1-2 deficit reeling off four straight games to ignite her charge through the second set to force a decider. Kuznetsova converted two of five break-point chances snatching the 37-minute second set to force the decider.
Kuznetsova broke at 30 in the third game of the final set and backed up the break for 3-1.
The 33-year-old Russian will play left-hander Kristyna Pliskova for a place in the semifinals. Pliskova powered past German qualifier Antonia Lottner, 6-2, 6-4, one round after Lottner shocked top-seeded Belinda Bencic.
The 27-year-old Pliskova won her lone prior meeting with Kuznetsova, rallying for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 decision at the 2015 Wimbledon.