Svetlana Kuznetsova runs over Jill Craybas in 1st round – Western & Southern Open 2011
Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russian, won her way to the 2nd round of the Cincinnati Open 2011, a Premier 5 WTA event, beating Jill Craybas of America. The 90 minutes match ended up with the Russian world No. 13 winning 6-3,
6-4. The venue of the match was the amazing Lindner Family Tennis Centre hard court circuit in Ohio, USA.
Aged 26, the Russian overcame her 37-year-old rival, Craybas, winning in straight sets. Formerly ranked as the 2nd best player in the world, Kuznetsova played her second head-to-head match against the American world
No.116. Previously the two came head on at the Pilot Pen Tennis at New Haven where the Russian again defeated Craybas with a tough win.
Aged 37, the American surely has to pull her strings off before they break. Although she has played well in the past 10 matches, winning 6, she still cannot challenge an agile young player. Witnessing a similar scenario, Craybas
took a harsh beating from the 26-year-old former world No.2, Kuznetsova.
On the contrary, winning her 1st rounder with a startling performance, Kuznetsova eased away surpassing the American for the second time. The Russian is well known for her unending stamina and well directed forehands.
Making use of her technique the Russian started off serving the first set.
Kuznetsova opened the scorecard winning game 1 and leading 1-0. Hitting the first breakpoint, the Russian then extended her lead from 2-0 to 3-0 in game 3. Breaking the chain, the American won her first game cutting the lead 3-1,
however, lost the next.
Out of the last 4 games, Kuznetsova took over 2 to win the set 6-3 and lead 1-0. Winning 22 service points and 20 returners, and holding on to a rock solid defence, the Russian totalled 42 points to bag her first set win.
Moving on with the second set, the American served first and took the lead saving a breakpoint. The Russian followed to settle the scores at 1-1 in game 2. The two then exchanged breakpoints in game 3 and 4 and levelled again at
2-2.
Levelling once again in the set at 3-3, the American then gave away a crucial breakpoint and lagged 3-4. The 26-year-old then extended his advantage lead to 5-3 winning game 8 on his serve. Maintaining her 2 games lead, Kuznetsova
flushed away with the second set 6-4 and won the match 6-3, 6-4.
Adding another 38 to the 42 in the first set, the Russian former world No.2 totalled 80 points overall in the match.
Winning her 1st rounder, Kuznetsova will now face, Petra Cetkovska, the Czech, in round 2 to battle it out for the 3rd round seat.
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