Why Is Kuznetsova Such An Underdog?

Question

It kills me! She has won the US Open before and made it to the finals last year. Plus there is no Justine Henin here. I mean she's beaten all the top players before. I think she can do it! I think she'll beat Dementieva in the Quarters and beat Davenport in the semis (yeah thats right LINDSAY DAVENPORT) and go on to the finals! She has potential. And I think since all eyes are off her she'll suprise everyone. Its really making me mad how everyones talking about " The sisters, The Serbs, and Safina (also Dementieva)"

Answer 1

I don't think they are trying to make her seem like an underdog. Like you said, she's one here previously and made it to the finals this year. It's just that other players have had a bigger year than she has. The sisters made it to the Wimbledon final and won the gold at the Olympics, The Serbs are #1 & 2 and Ivanovic made it to 2 grand slam finals this year, winning the french. And there is no denying that Safina is the hottest player on the tour. So I guess the question to be answered is what has Kuznetsova done this year that has been remarkable? And the answer to that is absolutely nothing. But I think she's an underdog, if anything I would think she is one of the favorites.

Answer 2

well i do like kuznetosova.. she is a wonderfull person, humble and is probably very nice..

i do think she has a great game, has alot of upside potential, and can do alot more with herself if she really got focused and toughened up.... but lets face it, she is just not mentally strong enough to go through a tough draw, take out big players and then pull off a big win...

its not her game, its just her mental game! she has underperformed big time this year so far at the slams.... any player who is having a great day can take her out it seems.... do i think she will win the US OPEN... well it would be nice..  but its least to be expected..

and to comment to G strokes about Lindsay davenport winning the US OPEN.. no absolutely not happening! i would pick, demeteva, safina, and Kuznetsova before davenport.. davenport doesn ot have the consistency or stamina to win a whole slam with the competion now! that would be a big fluke!

Answer 3

I would like to see her win.

But the sad fact is she has not really played her best in the big matches.She got blown away against Henin last year.

She makes to many unforced errors.She needs to focus,and try to get more control in the match.If she can keep the pressure on an opponent,she has a chance against anyone.

Sveta needs to act like she wants it.I'm sure she does,but she has gotten a bad reputation with the tennis media.

She gets up,and then gets sloppy.

She has a good draw this year,so I hope she takes full advantage of it.

Maybe standing with all those great champions the other night will provide inspiration.

Answer 4

i guess she is kinda "low profile" compared to the williamses or the serbs or the other russians.  so shes the underdog.  and people probably expect the williamses and the serbs to do better than svetlana

Answer 5

Because Kuznetsova sometimes has problems beating top players. I think she has a good chance of getting to the semis or farther. I know that Mary Carillo and John McEnroe at the French Open didn't even give Ivanovic the time of day to think that she might even win the tournament.

Answer 6

Well...other than that, she really has no standouts..

Undeniably she is an amazing tennis player and has a lot of potential..

But the current news is not about her....it IS all about the sisters, Serbs and the rising Dementieva and Safina.

I personally think she is underrated and she deserves more credit...she is consistent, and the second ranked Russian.

It would be fun if she pulls out a little surprise.  

Answer 7

Sveta is a really good player but she hasn't done great so far this season. She hasn't won any tourney yet, made it to 2 finals but lost, had early exits at Aussie Open (3rd Round) and Wimbledon (4th Round).

Answer 8

It is similar to Davydenko-He has been #4/5 in the world for the best part of this decade yet goes almost unnoticed. Unlike Davydenko, Kuznetsova is a genuine contender for Grand Slams and is good on all surfaces. I think it suits her being an underdog because mentally she is not the strongest.

She last won a Grand Slam 4 years ago and really for someone who has everything in her game she really should of won more.

I really want to see her step it up and take control of women's tennis-There is no clear best player so she really should be looking around and saying 'I can dominate the game right now'.

Also women's tennis at the moment is about the big names and so-called 'glamour girl' which Svetlana is neither.

Yes I am so thrilled to see Lindsay Davenport playing and winning again after a succession of niggly injuries. If she can stay fit I see no reason whatsoever why she can't go on and win the whole thing.

Answer 9

Because her results this year has been mediocre and disappointing when you consider how good a tennis player she is. Also, she is mentally weak and has had some early losses in various slams. And honestly, Elena, Ana and the WS have won or has contested in a MAJOR final while Sveta hasn't done anything major since reaching the final last year.If she wins then that's good.

BTW, she has achieved more when there is no pressure or expectations from her. So, being an underdog isn't so bad.