Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova (Russian: Светла́на Алекса́ндровна Кузнецо́ва (help·info); built-in June 27, 1985 in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) is a Russian able tennis player. She is currently ranked Apple No. 3. She won the 2004 US Open and the 2009 French Open singles titles acquisition Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina. She additionally was the runner-up in singles at the 2006 French Open and the 2007 US Open, both times to Belgian amateur Justine Henin.
Career
2001–2002
Kuznetsova began arena in tournaments on the ITF Ambit in 2000, acceptable her aboriginal of appellation on the ambit in April 2001. Her aboriginal appearances in the capital draws of tournaments on the capital WTA Tour were at the Madrid Open in May of that year and at the Waikoloa Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii, accident in the additional annular on both occasions. She accomplished the year as Apple No. 259.
Kuznetsova fabricated her admission in the capital draw of a Grand Slam at the 2002 Australian Open, where, as a qualifier, she accomplished the additional annular afore accident to 16th berry Iroda Tulyaganova. However, she absent in the condoning circuit of both the French Open and Wimbledon. As a qualifier at the clay-court Nordea Nordic Light Open in Helsinki, Finland in August, Kuznetsova won the aboriginal WTA singles appellation of her career, acquisition Apple No. 24 Patty Schnyder in the quarterfinals for her aboriginal win over a amateur ranked in the top 40, afore ultimately acquisition Denisa Chladkova in the final. Kuznetsova entered the top 100 for the aboriginal time as a aftereffect of the victory.
Kuznetsova able for the US Open, acquisition 19th berry Anne Kremer in the aboriginal annular for her aboriginal win over a amateur ranked in the top 20 afore ultimately accident in the third annular to 13th berry Silvia Farina Elia. In September, Kuznetsova won her additional appellation at the adamantine cloister Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic in Bali, Indonesia, acquisition above Grand Slam champions Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez. She accomplished the division as Apple No. 43. Additionally during 2002, she teamed up with Sanchez-Vicario to win the aboriginal WTA doubles titles of her career, in Sopot, Poland, Helsinki and Kōtō, Japan.
2003
Kuznetsova began the year by accident in the aboriginal annular of the Australian Open to additional berry Venus Williams. She did not ability the quarterfinals of any tournaments during the aboriginal bisected of the year, the highlight of this aeon actuality a win over Apple No. 11 Anastasia Myskina in the additional annular of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California. In the aboriginal annular of the French Open, Kuznetsova absent to Meghann Shaughnessy 3–6, 7–5, 11–9.
Kuznetsova's beforehand came at Wimbledon, area in the fourth round, she defeated approaching best Maria Sharapova to ability the aboriginal Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career. However, there, she absent to third berry Justine Henin. She afresh fabricated her aboriginal semifinal of the year at the Acura Classic in San Diego afore accident to Henin. At the US Open, Kuznetsova absent in the third annular to top berry Kim Clijsters. She accomplished the division as Apple No. 36.
While Kuznetsova's anniversary baronial in singles was alone bigger than her accomplishment the antecedent year by seven places, she fabricated bigger beforehand in doubles during the year, afterwards she partnered 31-times above Grand Slam women's doubles best Martina Navratilova throughout the year. Kuznetsova and Navratilova fabricated the final of the US Open, afore accident there to Paola Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual. Kuznetsova and Navratilova won four titles during the year, including at the Tier I tournaments in Rome and Toronto. Kuznetsova was briefly included in the top ten of the doubles rankings in September.
2004
Kuznetsova accomplished the third annular of the singles antagonism at the Australian Open afore accident to top berry Justine Henin. However, she accomplished the her additional Grand Slam doubles final at the clash with new accomplice Elena Likhovtseva afore accident there to Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez. Several weeks later, in the singles antagonism at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Kuznetsova defeated above Apple No. 1 Venus Williams 6–2, 6–3 in the quarterfinals afore acquisition Apple No. 8 Ai Sugiyama in the semifinals for her aboriginal win over a amateur ranked in the top ten. In the third final of her career, Kuznetsova absent to Apple No. 1 Henin. However, the afterward week, Kuznetsova defeated Henin for the aboriginal time in the semifinals of the Qatar Total Open in Doha, Qatar afore accident in the final to Anastasia Myskina in three sets. Kuznetsova entered the top 20 on the rankings for the aboriginal time as a aftereffect of this success.
In April, Kuznetsova fabricated her admission in the Fed Cup, acceptable a singles elastic and a doubles elastic in Russia's tie adjoin Australia. Kuznetsova afresh accomplished her third singles final of the year at the alpha of the clay-court division at the J&S Cup in Warsaw, accident there to Venus Williams. Kuznetsova had climbed to No. 11 by the time of the French Open. There, she accomplished the fourth annular afore accident to closing best Myskina 1–6, 6–4, 8–6, accepting captivated a bout point in the third set. In the doubles tournament, Kuznetsova teamed with Likhovtseva to ability the final, but like at the Australian Open, absent there to Suarez and Ruano Pascual. Afterward the French Open, Kuznetsova climbed to career-highs of Apple No. 9 in the singles rankings (her aboriginal time in the top ten) and Apple No. 3 in the doubles rankings.
Kuznetsova won the third appellation of her career at the Wimbledon countdown clash Hastings Direct International Championships in Eastbourne, UK, acquisition Daniela Hantuchova in the final. However, at Wimbledon itself, Kuznetsova suffered a abruptness first-round accident to Apple No. 118 Virginie Razzano.
Representing Russia at the Athens Olympics in August, Kuznetsova accomplished the quarterfinals afore accident to closing siver-medalist Amelie Mauresmo. She went into the US Open as the ninth seed. There, she defeated 14th berry Nadia Petrova in the quarterfinals, and then, in her aboriginal Grand Slam semifinal, she defeated fifth berry and above best Lindsay Davenport 1–6, 6–4, 6–2, catastrophe the American's 22-match acceptable streak. In the final, Kuznetsova defeated sixth berry Elena Dementieva 6–3, 7–5. Consequently, Kuznetsova became the aboriginal Russian to win the US Open and the third to win any Grand Slam singles title, afterward the successes of Myskina and Maria Sharapova beforehand in the year. Meanwhile, Kuznetsova teamed with Likhovtseva to ability the final of the doubles clash afore accident there to Suarez and Ruano Pascual, appearance Kuznetsova's fourth defeat to the bond in four Grand Slam doubles finals.
Following the US Open, Kuznetsova connected her success by acceptable the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic in Bali, Indonesia, acquisition Marlene Weingartner in the final. This added her baronial to a new aerial of Apple No. 5. The afterward week, at the China Open in Beijing, Kuznetsova defeated Wimbledon best Sharapova in the semifinals 6–2, 6–2 to extend her acceptable band to 14 matches. However, she absent in the final to Serena Williams afterwards arch by a set and a break. Making her admission at the ambiguous season-ending WTA Championships in Los Angeles, Kuznetsova absent two of three matches in the basic round-robin date and appropriately bootless to beforehand to the semifinals. She accomplished the year by actuality allotment of the arrive Russian aggregation in the Fed Cup, alike admitting Kuznetsova herself absent her two singles rubbers in the final adjoin France. Kuznetsova accomplished the division as Apple No. 5.
2005
Kuznetsova began the year by extensive the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, afore accident there to fourth berry Maria Sharapova in three sets. However, she teamed up with Alicia Molik at the accident to win the aboriginal Grand Slam doubles appellation of her career, acquisition Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu in the final.
Kuznetsova did not ability the final at any clash during the bounce hard-court season, with her defeats including one to Apple No. 97 Sania Mirza in the aboriginal annular of the Dubai Tennis Championships. She fabricated her aboriginal final of the year at the J&S Cup in Warsaw, acquisition above Apple No. 1 Kim Clijsters in the semifinals, catastrophe the Belgian's 16-match acceptable streak. In the final, Kuznetsova absent to Justine Henin. At the French Open, Kuznetsova absent to eventutal best Henin in the fourth annular 7–6(6), 4–6, 7–5, accepting captivated a bout point in the third set.
Kuznetsova accomplished the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the additional time in her career afore accident there to top berry Davenport. However, she teamed up with Amelie Mauresmo to ability her sixth Grand Slam doubles final, accident there to Cara Black and Liezel Huber.
In advancing to avert her US Open title, Kuznetsova won aloof two of bristles matches in countdown tournaments. At the US Open itself, she absent to Apple No. 97 Ekaterina Bychkova in the aboriginal round, acceptable the aboriginal changeable arresting US Open best to lose in the aboriginal round.[1] As a aftereffect of this defeat, Kuznetsova alone out of the top ten on the apple rankings. Afterward the US Open, Kuznetsova played aloof four matches during the butt of the year, acceptable two of them. She accomplished the year ranked Apple No. 18.
2006
At the Australian Open, Kuznetsova accomplished the fourth annular afore accident there to top berry Lindsay Davenport. However, several weeks later, Kuznetsova rebounded at the Dubai Tennis Championships, acquisition Apple No. 2 Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals for her aboriginal win over a amateur ranked in the top ten back 2004. She afresh absent to Justine Henin in the semifinals. In March, Kuznetsova defeated above Apple No. 1 Martina Hingis in the third annular of the Tier I NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami, afore activity on to defeat ascendant Apple No. 1 Mauresmo 6–1, 6–4 in the semifinals. In the final, she defeated Maria Sharapova to win the aboriginal Tier I appellation of her career and her aboriginal singles appellation of any affectionate in 18 months. She alternate to the top ten on the apple rankings as a aftereffect of the win.
Kuznetsova accomplished her additional final of the year at the clay-court J&S Cup in Warsaw, acquisition Venus Williams en route. In the final, she absent to Apple No. 2 Kim Clijsters, appearance the third afterwards year she had accomplished runner-up at the tournament. At the French Open, Kuznetsova accomplished the quarterfinals for the aboriginal time, area she defeated 14th berry Dinara Safina. In the semifinals, she defeated 17 year old Czech Nicole Vaidišová 5–7, 7–6 (5), 6–2 afterwards extenuative a bout point. In the additional Grand Slam final of her career, Kuznetsova absent to Henin 6–4, 6–4.
Kuznetsova underperformed at both Wimbledon and the US Open, accident in the third annular of the above to 27th berry Li Na and in the fourth annular of the closing to 19th berry Jelena Jankovic. However, she alternate to the top bristles on the rankings afterward the closing result. In September, Kuznetsova won her additional appellation of the year at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic in Bali, Indonesia, acquisition Davenport in the semifinals and Marion Bartoli in the final. The afterward week, she won the China Open in Beijing, afterwards acquisition Apple No. 1 Mauresmo 6–4, 6–0 in the final. This apparent the aboriginal time Kuznetsova had won back-to-back tournaments. Aggressive at the season-ending WTA Championships for the additional time in Madrid, Kuznetsova bootless to beforehand accomplished the basic round-robin date afresh afterwards acceptable aloof one of three matches. She accomplished the division as Apple No. 4, her best accomplishment to date.
2007
Kuznetsova began the year by accident decidedly in the fourth annular of the Australian Open to 16th berry Shahar Peer. She rebounded to ability her aboriginal final of the year in February at the Qatar Total Open in Doha, Qatar, accident there to Justine Henin. She afresh fabricated the final of the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, but afresh absent to Daniela Hantuchová. However, extensive the final bigger her baronial to a career aerial of Apple No. 3.
Kuznetsova connected her able anatomy during the clay-courts season. At the J&S Cup in Warsaw, she defeated Venus Williams for the aboriginal time in her career in the quarterfinals afore accident to Alona Bondarenko in the semifinals. She afresh fabricated the final of addition Tier I tournament, at the Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin, afterwards acquisition Apple No. 1 Henin for alone the additional time in her career in the semifinals. In the final, Kuznetsova absent to Ana Ivanović. The afterward week, Kuznetsova accomplished the final of the Tier I Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, accident there to Jelena Janković. As the third berry at the French Open, Kuznetsova avant-garde to the quarterfinals afterwards bottomward a set but absent there to closing runner-up Ivanovic 6–0, 3–6, 6–1.
Kuznetsova accomplished the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the third time in her career in July, but absent there to closing best Venus Williams 6–3, 6–4. In August, Kuznetsova won her aboriginal appellation of the year at the Pilot Pen Tennis clash in New Haven, USA, afterwards three of her opponents retired due to abrasion or affliction during the match, including her adversary in the final Ágnes Szávay. At the US Open, Kuznetsova defeated sixth berry Anna Chakvetadze in the semifinals to beforehand to the third Grand Slam final of her career. However, there, she was defeated by Henin 6–1, 6–3. As a aftereffect of this run, Kuznetsova rose to a new aerial of Apple No. 2 on the rankings.
Kuznetsova afresh went on to attempt for Russia in the Fed Cup, acceptable both her rubbers in the final adjoin Italy and in the action allowance Russia to win the antagonism for a third time. At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, Kuznetsova recorded her aboriginal career win over Serena Williams afore accident in the semifinals to Tatiana Golovin. The afterward week, she absent to Serena Williams in the semifinals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Kuznetsova completed the year by aggressive at the year-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, but already afresh bootless to beforehand above the basic round-robin date of the clash afterwards accident all three of her matches. She accomplished the division as Apple No. 2 and as the highest-ranked Russian amateur for the aboriginal time.
2008
Kuznetsova began the division by extensive the final at the Medibank International in Sydney, accident there to Apple No. 1 Justine Henin afterwards arch by a breach in the final set. At the Australian Open, Kuznetsova was seeded second, but suffered a abruptness accident in the third annular to 29th berry Agnieszka Radwanska.
Kuznetsova fabricated her additional final of the division at the Dubai Tennis Championships, acquisition above Apple No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals and Apple No. 4 Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals. However, in the final, Kuznetsova absent to Elena Dementieva. At the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California in March, Kuznetsova defeated Radwanska in the quarterfinals afore acceptable the aboriginal being to defeat Australian Open best Maria Sharapova during the division in the semifinals. In the final, Kuznetsova absent to top-seeded Ana Ivanović in beeline sets. This apparent her eighth defeat in her nine best contempo appearances in finals. At the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open in Miami the abutting fortnight, Kuznetsova defeated Venus Williams in the quarterfinals but afresh absent to Serena Williams 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 in the semifinals, afterwards arch by a set and a breach at one stage.
Kuznetsova's anatomy biconcave afterward the cessation of the bounce hard-court season, as she won aloof three of bristles matches on adobe arch up to the French Open. At the French Open itself, Kuznetsova had the befalling to become Apple No. 1. She avant-garde to the semifinals afterwards bottomward a set, but afresh was able-bodied baffled by Dinara Safina 6–3, 6–2. At Wimbledon, Kuznetsova absent in the fourth annular to Radwanska 6–4, 1–6, 7–5, afterwards arch by a breach in the third set.
Kuznetsova's poor year in above contest connected in the summer, as she absent in the aboriginal annular of the tennis accident at the Beijing Olympics to Li Na and in the third annular of the US Open to Katarina Srebotnik. Afterwards the closing loss, she alone out of the top bristles on the apple rankings for the aboriginal time in two years. However, afterwards this, Kuznetsova won both her singles rubbers in Russia's achievement over Italy in the Fed Cup final. The afterward week, Kuznetsova fabricated her aboriginal final back March at the Tier I Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, acquisition Apple No. 2 Jankovic in the quarterfinals afore activity on to lose to Safina 6–1, 6–3 in the final. The afterward week, Kuznetsova accomplished the final at the China Open in Beijing, but absent there to Jankovic 6–3, 6–2. This apparent Kuznetsova's 10 defeat in her aftermost 11 finals. She completed the year by already afresh declining to beforehand accomplished the basic round-robin date at the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar, accident all three of her matches. Kuznetsova accomplished the year ranked Apple No. 8, but was the alone woman in the top ten not to accept won a appellation during the year.
2009
At the Australian Open, Kuznetsova accomplished the quarterfinals for the additional time in her career, but absent there to closing best Serena Williams 5–7, 7–5, 6–1, afterwards accepting been two credibility abroad from acceptable in the additional set. Afterwards that, Kuznetsova did not win addition bout on the WTA Tour for about two months. She bankrupt the accident band at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, extensive the semifinals afore accident there to Victoria Azarenka.Kuznetsova's anatomy bigger at the alpha of the clay-court season. At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, Kuznetsova defeated Apple No. 3 Elena Dementieva 6–4, 6–2 in the semfinals to ability her aboriginal final of the year. There, she defeated Apple No. 1 Dinara Safina 6–4, 6–3 to win her aboriginal singles appellation back August 2007. The afterward week, Kuznetsova additionally accomplished the final at the Premier 5 Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome, accepting defeated Apple No. 4 Jelena Jankovic en route. However, in the final, she absent to Safina 6–3, 6–2. As a aftereffect of her able clay-court season, she was advised one of the favorites at the French Open. There, she defeated additional berry Serena Williams in the quarterfinals 7–6 (7–3), 5–7, 7–5 area she recovered from a breach bottomward in the final set. In the semifinals, Kuznetsova defeated Samantha Stosur to ability the fourth Grand Slam final of her career, area she defeated top berry Safina 6–4, 6–2 to win the additional Grand Slam appellation of her career.[2] Kuznetsova alternate to the top bristles on the apple rankings as a aftereffect of her win.
At Wimbledon, Kuznetsova was defeated decidedly in the third round, on her 24th birthday, by dormant German Sabine Lisicki. She pulled out of the LA Women's Tennis Open, citation a bottom injury. Her abutting accident is allotment of the Olympus US Open Series, the Western & Southern Financial Accumulation Masters and Women's Open. She accustomed a aboriginal annular bye and defeated Lucie Safarova 6–3, 6–7, 7–6 afterwards arch 6–3, 5–2. She fell to Kim Clijsters in the third round, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2. She afresh played in the Rogers Cup and fell to Samantha Stosur, who she defeated in the French Open semifinals, in the additional round. She afresh accustomed a agrarian agenda access to the Pilot Pen Tennis clash in New Haven. She absent in the quarterfinals to Amelie Mauresmo.
At the 2009 US Open she won in beeline set wins over Gorges, Sevatsova, and Peer. But she decidedly absent adjoin Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round.
At the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, seeded fifth, she absent in her aboriginal bout adjoin Andrea Petkovic. The anniversary later, she played at China Open as the sixth seed. She avant-garde to the final assault Nadia Petrova in the semifinal. She faced Agnieszka Radwanska in the final and won by 6–2, 6–4. This was her third appellation of the year.
Soon later, she reclaimed her apple no.3 appellation and played at the 2009 WTA Tour Championships, the year end championships, in Doha, Qatar. She entered the Maroon accumulation forth with Elena Dementieva and the Williams Sisters, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. She absent both her matches adjoin the Williams Sisters, by 6(6)-7, 5–7 adjoin Serena admitting accepting 2 set credibility in the aboriginal set, and by 2–6, 7–6(3), 4–6 adjoin Venus. She, however, defeated Dementieva, breaking her 8-match accident band at the Championships. The win did not do any acceptable for her as Venus Williams became the aftermost amateur to authorize to the semifinal from the Maroon group.
2010
Kuznetsova began the year at the Medibank International in Sydney, Australia. She defeated Alisa Kleybanova in the aboriginal annular afore falling to Dominika Cibulkova in the additional round.
Kuznetsova was seeded 3rd for the 2010 Australian Open. She avant-garde to the 4th round, area she absent 3–6, 6–3, 1–6, to #19 Nadia Petrova. Kuznetsova struggled with 52 autogenetic errors. Afterward the tournament, Kuznetsova fell to Apple No. 4.
At the 2010 Fed Cup, Kuznetsova defeated Ana Ivanovic to accord Russia a 1–0 advance over Serbia. She afresh fell in three sets to Jelena Jankovic in about-face singles. She afresh partnered with Alisa Kleybanova to win the chief doubles bout over Ivanovic and Jankovic.
Kuznetsova was seeded 2nd for the Dubai Tennis Championships but fell in a abominable 3rd annular agitated to qualifier and apple No. 99 Regina Kulikova 7–5, 6–7(2), 4–6.
At the Billie Jean King Cup, Kuznetsova absent her bout 6–4 to Venus Williams.
Her accident band connected at the BNP Paribas Open area she was the top seed, accident in the 2nd annular to Carla Suarez Navarro, 4–6 6–4 1–6.
Kuznetsova was seeded No.1 at the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open and afterwards a accepting a bye in the aboriginal round, managed to anticipate addition agitated adjoin her by acquisition Peng Shuai in the additional annular 6–2, 3–6, 6–4. She afresh defeated 27th berry Agnes Szavay 6-2, 6-3 to book a fourth annular appointment with 13th berry Marion Bartoli.
