Svetlana Kuznetsova cripples Andrea Hlavackova to enter round two – BNP Paribas Open 2013
Former world number two, Svetlana Kuznetsova, breezed past the Czech contender, Andrea Hlavackova, with a breadstick at the BNP Paribas Open 2013 on Wednesday. She notched up a 6-3, 6-1 victory against the 26-year-old to power into the second round at this
WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier event taking place in Indian Wells, United States.
The Russian veteran re-ignited her old spark to triumph over Hlavackova, in their first encounter. After recording this victory, Kuznetsova comfortably progressed into the second round. She reflected in a courtside interview:
"At the start of the match I was able to get the break quite early as she made a few mistakes, but then I was a bit slow, and I gave her the chance to get back into the match. But then I started to play my game again and move better, and I managed to control
the match after that."
Kuznetsova stormed into this hard court tournament and got the breakthrough in the opening game to take the initial lead. Apart from losing her edge in the fourth game, the Russian broke her rival’s serve again and took a 4-2 lead. After the Czech kept her
serve in the seventh game, Kuznetsova reeled off the last two games and clinched the opener with a 6-3 score line.
Currently ranked 46th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Kuznetsova maintained her intensity in the proceeding set. After Hlavackova slid her serve in the second game, the Russian went berserk and reeled off following five games. She cashed both break
chances and clicked the set with a breadstick.
Next in queue for Kuznetsova is the former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, who is seeded 18th at this event. The Serbian star has found her rhythm recently and grabbed her first title in three years last week in Bogota.
"I haven't played her for years so it's going to be a very interesting match - a very tough match, of course," Kuznetsova commented. "I remember that her down-the-line backhand was quite good and normally her movement was good, but I haven't seen her play
for a while, so we'll see how it goes."
The Russian is currently leading the head-to-head series against Jankovic by 6-5.
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