Svetlana Kuznetsova outshines Akgul Amanmuradova in 3rd round – US Open 2011
Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 15, saw a comprehensive win over un-seeded Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan at the 2011 US Open during their third round match at Flushing Meadows. The Russian (Kuznetsova) outshone world number 118
(Amanmuradova) in straight sets of 6-4, 6-2 in just 74 minutes of the match.
The two had previously met once prior to this event during the third Grand Slam of last year. On grass courts of Wimbledon Kuznetsova had defeated Amanmuradova in the first round with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4. This was another chance
bestowed by fate for Amanmuradova to avenge her loss but alas, her wish not granted and she lost again. However, Kuznetsova managed to qualify through to the quarter final of the US Open and was now leading in the head-to-head with a 2-0 against the Uzbek.
The Russian won the toss and opened the score card to 1-0 but Amanmuradova also won on her serve and the score board read, 1-1. After winning on her serve in the third game, Kuznetsova was first to break in the fourth and took
the lead with a 3-1. However, Amanmuradova was not to be left behind and she too broke her opponent and minimized the gap between the two. Eventually in the sixth game the Uzbek held her serve and equalized the score to 3-3. Now the game could’ve gone either
way and even though, un-seeded Amanmuradova broke her rival to take the lead at 4-3, it was just not her day as Kuznetsova immediately broke her opponent not letting her take the edge and again balanced out the score to 4-4. However, after that it was a quick
victory for Kuznetsova as she was able to win all games on her serve and in the tenth game broke her opponent to serve the set at 6-4.
Although, it was a close call for Amanmuradova, she was unable to play to her utmost and lost the set, as Kuznetsova emerged victorious with the aid of eleven winners and kept a control over her unforced errors.
During the second set Kuznetsova was again to serve first and won on her serve to open the score board to 1-0, however, both the players kept on winning on their serves until Kuznetsova broke her opponent in the sixth game and
took the lead at 4-2. She then held her serve and saw a comprehensive victory when in the eighth game she completely crushed her opponent by breaking her and bagged a quick 33 minute set, while restricting her adversary to only two games.
Seeded 15 Kuznetsova proved that she was the better player amongst them, with 9 winners and 3 aces she was able to secure a berth in the fourth round of the US Open. She will now be facing world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Tags: