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By Erik Gudris | Saturday, May 31, 2014

 
Svetlana Kuznetsova Roland Garros 2014

2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova used her defensive prowess versus Petra Kvitova to reach the second week in Paris.

Photo Credit: AP

Erratic. Frustrating. Unpredictable.

Words used by many in describing Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Despite both being former Grand Slam champions, each woman often defies and deflates expectations based on often exciting yet inconsistent play from both in any given match. Yet their French Open third round encounter on Saturday lived up to those adjectives and a few more like brilliant and engaging as they pushed each other to the limit for over three hours.

On paper, the advantage seemed with Kvitova who had won all three previous meetings against the Russian. But this was their first time facing off on clay - the favorite domain of Kuznetsova throughout her career.

Kvitova's offense versus Kuznetsova's defense would be the dominate theme throughout the afternoon. That proved true right at the outset even as Kvitova earned an early break in the opening set. Kuznetsova, who awed spectators by hitting a looping forehand winner around the net post, broke back for 3-all. Kvitova, taking massive cuts on the ball, would often find them coming back as Kuznetsova slid and scampered all over the baseline.

Kuznetsova, the winner of Paris five years ago, perhaps in an attempt to hit as big as Kvitova, would often miss in frustration and remind herself to hit over the ball. That boiled over at one stage when Kuznetsova punched her racquet with a clinched fist after yet another miss.

A tiebreak ensued with Kvitova pouncing early for a 3-0 lead. Kuznetsova would rally, but Kvitova's ability to hit winners from seemingly impossible positions on court proved too much. Kvitova, with an emphatic ace, sealed the set 7-6(3).

Kuznetsova didn't linger over that lost opportunity as she broke Kvitova right away in the second set. Soon after, Kvitova would take an off-court medical time out. She returned with a taped thigh but the injury would put a dent in her efforts. Unable to hit with the same velocity as earlier, Kvitova struggled as Kuznetsova bided her time in the rallies and often forced a Kvitova error.

A let cord winner for Kuznetsova gave her the second set 6-1 yet, perhaps of more importance, allowed her to serve first in the final set.

Kvitova surprised many, including her opponent, by leaving the court again - this time for a bathroom break. Her extended absence cooled down Kuznetsova long enough so that Kvitova broke early in the third. Now looking more like she did in the first set, Kvitova raced out to a 3-1 lead. With a massive crosscourt backhand pass, Kuznetsova got to 3-2 and then decided she too needed a bathroom break as well.

Was it quid pro quo for having waited so long for Kvitova earlier? If so, it worked as Kuznetsova broke Kvitova and later held with ease for 4-3. The tug of war between the Russian's defiant defense and the Czech's overwhelming offense continued.

Despite having hit 50 unforced errors by now, Kvitova escaped out of a ragged service game for 4-all. Kuznetsova responded with a poor service game herself and that set up Kvitova to serve for it all at 5-4.

In yet another plot twist, Kuznetsova's looping groundstrokes and steady backcourt replies paid off as she broke back for 5-all.

Having held serve for 6-5, Kuznetsova quickly found herself with two match points on Kvitova's serve. Not backing down, Kvitova responded with massive hitting to save both and forced deuce. With her screams punctuating every winner from her racquet, Kvitova's pinpoint ball striking would get her that game and the next allowing her to serve for the match again at 7-6.

Kuznetsova, chasing every ball down, didn't give Kvitova any satisfaction as she broke back for 7-all. With the match now over three hours long, the question was now who could last longer. Kuznesova roared out "Vamos!" after holding serve for 8-7.

Hustling for every ball, as she had all match long, would soon prove key for Kuznetsova. Chasing down a low Kvitova volley, Kuznetsova sent it back over the net that forced another Kvitova error for 0-30. Having jarred her already sore thigh in the process, Kvitova couldn't push off on her serve and her 11th double fault created three more match points for Kuznetsova. This had to be the Russian's chance it seemed.

A final long rally with each grinding from the baseline ended when Kvitova sent a shot just long. With that, Kuznetsova spread her arms somewhat in disbelief and also in relief on winning the titanic struggle 6-7(3), 6-1, 9-7.

Next for Kuznetsova, will be another lefty Czech in Lucie Safarova who took out another former French Open winner Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-3. Despite a slow start this season, Kuznetsova once again finds herself in the mix for perhaps a second title in Paris.

 

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