Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova to meet in Roland Garros semifinals

Svetlana Kuznetsova at Roland Garros 2008Dinara Safina at Roland Garros 2008This year at Roland Garros we will have an all-Serbian and an all-Russian semifinal. In the Russian semifinal Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova will meet each other.

World No.14 Safina moved into the final four with another remarkable comeback victory. The No.13 seed defeated countrywoman Elena Dementieva. Seventh-seeded Dementieva led 5-2 in the second set and looked set for victory when she reached match point at 5-4. But Safina fought back to triumph 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-0. This victory came just two days after she beat world number one Maria Sharapova in the fourth round in almost identical fashion.

Safina is turning out to be one of the greatest comeback artists on the Grand Slam stage. With the victory over Dementieva she has become the first woman since tennis turned professional in 1968 to have come from match point down in successive grand slam matches — winning both.

Fourth-seeded Kuznetsova struggled in the first set, trailing Estonian world No.49 Kaia Kanepi 4-2 and 40-0 in the next game, but eventually stepped up a gear and claimed a convincing 7-5 6-2 win.

World No.3 Kuznetsova has a 4-3 head-to-head record against Safina, while on clay that record is 3-2. Moreover, Kuznetsova won their last match, which was also on clay in Rome last year. (sources: BBC, Reuters; photos: Getty Images)

Svetlana Kuznetsova thinks Ana Ivanovic or Jelena Jankovic will win Roland Garros

Svetlana Kuznetsova

In an interview, world No.4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, known for being a fun and positive person, straightforwardly said that nobody has a chance against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic at this year's Roland Garros. Haha, look at the way she expressed that.

Interviewer: There are three players from Serbia here, you know. Can you see any of them as a winner of Roland Garros?

Kuznetsova: Yes, definitely. Ivanovic or Jankovic going to win. We are losers.

(via Women Who Serve, photo via BBC)

Serena Williams beats Svetlana Kuznetsova to move into finals in Miami

Serena Williams beats Svetlana Kuznetsova at Sony Ericsson OpenSerena Williams has once again shown she feels good in Miami. The world No.8 came back from a set down to defeat Svetlana Kuznetsova and reach the championship match when she'll fight for her fifth Sony Ericsson Open title.

Eighth-seeded Williams won today's semifinal 3-6 7-5 6-3 after 2 hours and 47 minutes. The fans enjoyed an entertaining match, uncertain up until the last point.

Third-seeded Kuznetsova won the first set, and was within sight of victory at 5-5 in the second, but Williams took the match to the third set. In the decider, out of the nine games played, there were five breaks of serve and a total of fourteen break points. You can imagine the uncertainty.

Serena Williams was victorious in the finals of Miami in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007. She lost the final there only once, in 1999. If Williams wins the Sony Ericsson Open again, she’ll tie Steffi Graf’s record of five titles in Miami.

In Saturday’s final, Serena Williams will play either Jelena Jankovic or Vera Zvonareva. (image via Yahoo)

Svetlana Kuznetsova beats Venus Williams in Miami quarterfinals

Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Sony Ericsson OpenSvetlana Kuznetsova defeated Venus Williams 6-4 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Kuznetsova’s victory spoiled the prospect of an all-Williams semifinal. So, instead of her older sister, Serena Williams, who beat Justine Henin in the Sony Ericsson Open quarters, will next face the Russian world No.4.

"I just felt a little bit off," said Venus, who has won the tournament in 1998, 1999 and 2001. "I didn't have the answers today, and she played well.

"I'm always happy for Serena to win. It would have been obviously very exciting for me to win too, but it just didn't happen." (via xinhuanet)

Sharapova won’t play Fed Cup semifinal, Kuznetsova to lead the team

Maria Sharapova won’t play Fed Cup semifinalMaria Sharapova will skip the Fed Cup semifinal against the USA in Moscow this month, and instead of her, Svetlana Kuznetsova will lead the Russian team.

World No.5 Sharapova and No.4 Kuznetsova are very busy, and both have the goal of taking the first spot in the rankings this year. As Sharapova played the last tie, against Israel, now it’s Kuznetsova’s turn. That has been the plan, and it’s fair enough.

The American team has been significantly weakened as neither Venus nor Serena Williams will play against Russia in the 26-27 April tie.

Russia have been the competition's most consistent team in recent years, winning the trophy on three of the last four occasions. (source: BBC)


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