2011 Fed Cup – Team Russia: Svetlana Kuznetsova
25-year-old Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova is currently ranked at number 14 in tennis World Rankings. Winner of 13 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) titles, Kuznetsova is considered to be one of the craftiest players in the game of
tennis. She has made her own place among the high class women tennis players in the world and has brought a number of moments of pride to her country.
Right-handed Kuznetsova is well known for her brilliant tennis skills and sheer determination in the game. She has bagged two Grand Slam titles in her 10-year professional career and has reached the best WTA World Ranking of number
two. The Russian veteran can be as devastating as any other top class women tennis player on her day and can always surprise every one with her tremendous efforts.
Kuznetsova surprised the tennis world with her US Open title victory way back in 2004, becoming the first Russian to win the Grand Slam title on the American soil. Her second Grand Slam victory came five years later at the Roland
Garros in 2009, when she defeated her fellow compatriot, Dinara Safina in the final to take the French Open crown. She also has a doubles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2005 and reached the Round Robin of the WTA Tour Championships four times,
failing to qualify for the semi-finals on all occasions.
The Russian has been actively representing her country in the Fed Cup tournaments, winning a number of matches for her side. Her first appearance in the Fed Cup was in 2004, competing against Australia in both single rubbers and
doubles matches. Her very first clash in the Fed Cup resulted in a hard-fought victory over Molik, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Kuznetsova teamed up with Likhovtseva in doubles and won her doubles clash against the Aussies, Molik and Rennae Stubbs to take Russia to an astounding
victory at 4-1.
Russia faced Argentina in Buenos Aires next up in the quarter-final encounter, where Kuznetsova failed to put up a good show. She was beaten by Gisela Dulko in a stiff three-set contest 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, but avenged her defeat in
the doubles round, having victory over Dulko and Patricia Tarabini 6-2, 5-7,6-4. Russia eventually passed into the semi-finals with the final score 4-1.
Kuznetsova brought further victories for her country in the semi-final against Austria, defeating Yvonne Meusburger, Daniela Kix, Meusburger and Patricia Wartusch in straight sets to propel Russia to a 5-0 victory. Kuznetsova continued
her impressive run in the final of the Fed Cup against France by winning against Dechy, but lost to Tatiana Golovin. Russia eventually won the Fed Cup in 2004 after consistant performances from Kuznetsova.
The 25-year-old Russian remained sidelined from the Fed Cup encounters in the next two years, before participating in 2007 event. She won her individual rubbers against Lourdes Domínguez Lino and Anabel Medina Garrigues to clear
the quarter-final round. Kuznetsova assisted the Russian squad to bag the Fed Cup title after her wins over Mara Santangelo and Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the final.
Team Russia won the Fed Cup next year as well, with Kuznetsova delivering the most of her. She won her two rubber matches against Spain in the final to bring the title to her nation for the second consecutive time.
Kuznetsova’s feats with the racquet continued in the 2009 edition of the Fed Cup as well, winning her singles and doubles clashes against China in the quarter-finals. However, Team Russia was defeated in the semis at the hands
of the Spaniards, with Kuznetsova winning the only match for her country. The same happened in the next year’s Fed Cup, as she won two of her three matches but her team led her victories down by suffering a 2-3 defeat by the Serbian squad.
The French team was the first one to face the Russians this year at the Fed Cup. Kuznetsova got beaten in her first match against Alize Cornet but compensated for it by winning the other singles rubber and the doubles clash to
take Russia to an amazing victory from being 0-2 down.
Kuznetsova is a part of the Russian squad which will be taking on the Italian team in the semi-final of Fed Cup on 16th April.
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