svetlana kuznetsova

[hellanvodka]

Paris - Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova revealed Tuesday that her French Open bid had been boosted by words of encouragement from retired four-time winner Justine Henin.

Kuznetsova has been tipped as one of the favourites to succeed Henin as champion after finishing runner-up to the Belgian here in 2006 and at last year's US Open.

The 22-year-old said that she had been delighted by Henin's prediction that she could be the likely winner of the 2008 title.

The fourth-seeded Russian got her campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday by advancing to the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Japan's Aiko Nakamura.
"I spoke to Justine and she told me that this could be my year and that really cheered me up," said Kuznetsova who was of only two players to complete matches before heavy rain swamped Roland Garros.

"I respect her decisions. I had a short chat with her when she was here. She said, 'Come on, maybe it can be your year'. So I thank her for that."

Kuznetsova, who won just two matches in her 18 meetings with Henin, said she had been surprised by the Belgian's decisison to retire aged 25.

"I had a very good relationship with her, respected her when she played. Now I respect her with her achievements. She was one of the best athletes, and it's really sad she left.

"I'm not going to say I'm happy; I'm not going to say I'm sad because I'm not going to play her again. It's not about that. It's just about one more great player leaving the game."

Kuznetsova has reached three finals this year but is still waiting to add to her Grand Slam collection after becoming the first Russian woman to win the US Open in 2004.

"I'm thinking about being consistent and hoping this moment will come. I think working hard and doing things every day, and reaching finals, I going to get this stage one day," she said.

"Because I do the best effort I can, and one day should happen."

But despite being among the favourites she believes this year's tournament will be open.

"Last month before the French Open the results were pretty unpredictable. The top players didn't win much tournaments. So I think a really unpredictable tournament can happen," she added. - Sapa-AFP

[hellanvodka]

12.57 pm: Davai Sveta! The athletic St Petersburgher wins in straight sets and will face KK Kaia Kanepi who beat Petra never Kvitova 6-1 in the final set earlier.

12.56 pm: Do matches that are carried over to another day have to be completed on the same court, I hear you ask. No, but generally they are. When it pours at Wimbledon you quite often get a change of court but they try to limit that to doubles or juniors.

12.53 pm: Kuzzie booms one down, 40-30, then double faults!

12.50 pm: Vika holds to love but big bold Sveta is about to serve with balles neuves, new balls, and I reckon this could be it. Balls are changed every nine games by the way, but since the warm-up counts as two games, they are first changed after the seventh game of any match. And after the matches here they are recycled as part of the French federation¡¯s commitment to the environment.

12.40 pm: Sorry, Sveta was serving and she banged down her 10th ace to hold and then broke straight away to lead 4-2. This might actually be an advantage for Sveta (or of course Vika) ¨C playing every day (obviously not three or five-setters) is what players prefer rather than having two days off ¨C they all tend to find practice deathly boring which is why a lot of them enter the doubles ¨C like Gael MySon Monfils, but I reckon that is just any excuse to cosy up to Dominika Cibulkova (and why not?!)

[hellanvodka]

One-on-one with¡­Svetlana Kuznetsova
Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Continuing our daily series of interviews with the stars of tennis, we talk to Svetlana Kuznetsova, a finalist in 2006 who will face Kaia Kanepi in the quarter finals tomorrow.

Favourite film

Save the Last Dance and Gladiator.

Favourite CD

The best song this year for me is ¡°Ayo Technology¡± by Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent. I really like rap ¨C Nas, Snoop Dogg ¨C but I also listen to Russian rock.

Favourite author

Pushkin. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (no wonder!!!!!!)

Favourite website

Classmates.com, in Russia it¡¯s a bit like Facebook.

Favourite city

Saint-Petersburg ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (of course) and Moscow. (huh? )

Most memorable victory

The US Open in 2004. ;D


Worst defeat

In the first round of the US Open in 2005.

Favourite food

Sushi.


The most stupid thing you¡¯ve ever done

I can¡¯t say. (Laughs)

Which actress should play you?

Eve. She¡¯s a singer but she can act as well.

Most under-estimated player on the tour

Petrova, Azarenka and myself.

First kiss

I was 10 or 11. It¡¯s not really a good memory because the boy had bad breath! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Craziest dream

Meeting famous rappers.