Maria Kirilenko upsets Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round of Rome
Maria Kirilenko defeated fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
After failing to defend her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix last week, and losing in the second round already, Kuznetsova continued with another early exit, in the same round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, the tournament at which she played the final last year. On top of that, the Internazionali BNL d’Italia is a key warm-up event for the French Open, which Kuznetsova won last season.
The fifth-seeded Kuznetsova lost her serve in the first game of today's match against unseeded Kirilenko and surrendered the first set because of many unforced errors. Kuznetsova won the second set and in the decider fought back from 4-1 down to level, but then dropped serve and let the match slip in the last game.
The world No.5 Kuznetsova hasn’t played one quarterfinal whole season. (photo: Stephane Martinache)
Don't know whats wrong with Sveta at the moment! Sha was far too passive in her recent game against Na Li and I said she had to be more aggressive if she was to win matches.
Didn't see todays game but i'm guessing it was a similar story?
Judging from her tweets i'd also guess that she is really letting the criticism that she is reading, in the press and online, get to her and is letting it affect her game.
She SHOULD be too professional to let that bother her but, on the other hand, she's only human!
I am wondering where is Sveta´s form?! She has been playing soooo passive since Sydney tournament. I know that nobody´s perfect, but I just don´t understand it. She looks unmotivated on the court a bit.
In the women´s rankings, the most of top ten players are not showing anything to us nowadays. Only Sam and Jelena…
Lulinqa, I totally agree. The most of current top ten are quite unimpressive this season. Besides the two you mentioned I would also add Caroline, who , unfortunately has pushed her body too far, it seems. But the rest of them is just switched off
. WTA is a weird one, when you compare it with ATP. In ATP the higher ranking means a better player but in WTA it seems to be the other way around these days.
Lulinqa & marine, I agree with you, nobody in the Top 10 is looking to be in any real form so far this year.
Frustratingly, as a big Pennetta fan, I keep thinking that she could get back into the Top 10 because nobody currently there is performing, then I realise that she isn't either!! AARRGGHH !
Had a good win in Marbella but a 1st Rnd defeat in Stuttgart undid that good work!
Yeah Caro aswel. She was playing too much in the past, what is visible nowadays.
Tony, I think Stuttgart was lucky for Flavia as she won the doubles
True Lulinqa, and it was greta that she won, but it does nothing for her singles ranking!
Still, i hope she and Gisela win a few more tournaments together this year (aSlam would be fantastic!).
"greta"?? who's greta?? LOL
Meant "great" obviously!
Tony, I understood your typo
[...] opponent in the quarters will be Maria Kirilenko, who followed up her upset of fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 win over Dominika Cibulkova. Venus’ next opponent will be seventh seed Jelena [...]