AAD2B030-CE11-4D8F-8C12-DE8F5F26C9D9
By Adrianna Outlaw
© Tony Chang/Chang Photography
(August 4, 2010) Svetlana Kuznetsova has spent much of the season spinning her wheels on a road to nowhere. The two-time Grand Slam champion began her US Open Series road trip to reclamation in San Diego, scoring a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win over eighth-seeded Yanina Wickmayer to advance to the round of 16 at the Mercury Insurance Open at LaCosta Resort and Spa.
The victory over the 16th-ranked Belgian was Kuznetsova's first win over a top-20 opponent since she beat No. 5 Elena Dementieva at the WTA Tour Championships last November. Kuznetsova had lost six straight matches to top 20 opponents entering San Diego.
It was a much-needed win for Kuznetsova, who concluded the 2009 season ranked No. 3, but has slumped to No. 21 in the midst of a 10-month title drought. The 2009 French Open champion has not won a title since she beat Agnieszka Radwanska to win Beijing last October. Kuznetsova has reached just one quarterfinal in 11 tournaments this season, an alarmingly poor track record for a player of her stature.
Displaced from her customary top 10 spot, Kuznetsova said she's unsettled by her present predicament.
"It's very frustrating to be where I am," said Kuznetsova. "I was always a top 10 player and now I'm somewhere else. For others it's normal, but I think I belong somewhere else."
It's not inconceivable Kuznetsova could make a run to the top 15 or higher before the US Open begins on August 30th. She won just three US Open Series matches last summer, including a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(2) decision over Wickmayer at New Haven, and can pick up valuable ranking points in San Diego, Cincinnati and Montreal.
Racing out to 5-0 leads in both the first and final sets vs. Wickmayer, Kuznetsova showed there is nothing inherently wrong with her game. She has all the tools — a strong first serve and the ability to hit it flat with kick or slice, a tremendous topspin forehand and quick feet that can carry her to almost any ball on the court — the challenge Kuznetsova faces is maintaining a positive mental and emotional state on court.
It's as if Kuznetsova, who has the ability to change gears and game plans, is often indecisive about what style of tennis she should play and has spent much of this season falling victim to indecision and frustration.
The return to hard courts could compel the 2004 US Open champion to play more assertive tennis, use her serve to set up her forehand and dictate play from the first strike.
Kuznetsova's talent is unquestioned, it's her ability to make the best use of that talent and stay the course during the inevitable peaks and valleys of a match that can be questionable. Unlike Maria Sharapova, who managed her emotion and game to reach the Stanford final last week even though her best tennis often eluded her, Kuznetsova can be quick to pull the rip cord if she's not playing to a satisfactory level.
If she can get back to imposing her game on opponents, accepting the challenge each match brings and mentally grinding it out on those days when she's not at her best, there's no reason Kuznetsova can't break through and win a title this summer.
The fact that Kuznetsova is playing doubles this week with Wimbledon singles and doubles finalist Vera Zvonareva could give her some much-needed match play. Kuznetsova's win over Wickmayer was just her third match since the start of Wimbledon.
Next up for Kuznetsova is a quarterfinal with Italian Sara Errani. The winner of that match could face Zvonareva, who beat wild card Dominika Cibulkova, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 on Tuesday, for a spot in the semifinals.