Serena out-hits Kuznetsova for win

Eurosport - Tue, 27 Oct 14:09:00 2009

Serena Williams opened her campaign to regain the world number one ranking on a positive note with a hard-fought 7-6(6) 7-5 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Serena Williams of the U.S hits a return to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the WTA Tour Championships, REUTERS - 0

To regain the top spot in the rankings, Williams needs to out-perform current world number one Dinara Safina, who is in the white group.

Williams, in the maroon group along with sister Venus, Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, had not played a match for two weeks before entering the Kalifa Tennis Centre, a fact that showed early in the match as the American struggled to find her range.

The struggle allowed Kuznetsova, a winner in Beijing just two weeks go, to grab an early break, battering a forehand winner straight down the line in the third game to take the advantage.

But a poor game from the Russian just three games later, sealed by a backhand winner down the line from Williams, allowed the American right back into the set as she got things back on serve.

The two players also traded breaks late in the set, with Kuznetsova slapping a forehand wide down the line to concede her serve whilst serving for the set in the 10th game.

Perhaps inevitably, with so little between the two players, the first set was to be decided on a tie-break with Williams being forced to save two set points before sealing the set with a backhand winner off a shorter ball from Kuznetsova.

The second set followed much the same pattern with Kuznetsova snatching the early break only to be pegged back by Williams once again.

The Russian produced a scintillating string of points in the fourth game to wear Williams down and seal the break before being broken straight back, when she hit wide, after a game that was as poor as the previous one was good.

And eventually it was Williams who lifted her level when it was required breaking for the lead in the 11th game, with a forehand winner, before serving out the match to love with a backhand winner into the open court.

Watch the WTA Championships LIVE from Doha from 2pm on Wednesday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

Comment 30 - 49 of 49

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  1. Nebojsa, look at (pogledaj) JJ and shut up!!!

    From Svetlana, on Wed 28 Oct 6:39PM

  2. If Serena regains the No 1 spot it will ony be because­ Dinara has been injured not becasue Serena is a better­ player than DInara. Getting to No 1 because your­ nearest rival is injured doesn't prove your a­ better player, although I'm sure Serena won't­ take that into consideration.

    From Gaia, on Wed 28 Oct 6:31PM

  3. Serena will let Venus beat her so that they both can go­ on to the next round. Have to keep it in the family.

    From Phil, on Wed 28 Oct 1:55PM

  4. it's fun that wen ever Venus and Serena Williams­ play the message boards are flooded win or lose... pple­ love these girls even those who hate them make­ eurosport the best place for williams commentry....­ love you girls especially the fact that you make your­ haters sit down and write in their ignorence wow the­ power of power girls.....

    From Sports mentor, on Wed 28 Oct 1:54PM

  5. Oi Svetlana (45) it's all about the looks with­ womens tennis because womens tennis is dull.
    The tennis­ authorities do nothing to stop it... they get their­ publicity from it.

    From HelmetHunter, on Wed 28 Oct 1:08PM

  6. Great result for Serena!! She looked determined,­ focused and like she wanted to win and was serious­ about doing so, which she sometimes has failed to do at­ this event in the past. I thought she looked in great­ physical shape and really hope she wins! Good luck­ Serena!

    From Jude, on Wed 28 Oct 12:27PM

  7. Good place for all big and tall singles, please check:­ ---Tallloving Co M ---- ,More fun waiting for you...

    From kentdav24, on Wed 28 Oct 12:19PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    But it must be said - Serena Williams is the ugliest­ women in history of this planet...

    From Nebojsa, on Wed 28 Oct 11:45AM

  9. It's not about how players look!!!! We talk about­ tennis!!!!! There are many sites about beauty­ contest....which you can visit to discuss some beauty­ topics....or when this site put those topics......I­ don't remember this site did it­ recently.......Serena you are the greatest among the­ active players!!!!!

    From Svetlana, on Wed 28 Oct 10:19AM

  10. Serena is the true #1

    From Giovanni T, on Wed 28 Oct 9:06AM

  11. Tong Jin K : Ur comments are getting too personal.­ Maybe what happened at the US Open is just too much for­ you to handle. Life still goes on. take a chill pill­ man. Unless the lines woman is related to you.. ;-)

    From Bblee, on Wed 28 Oct 8:39AM

  12. I'd love to see the ESPN pics BEFORE they were­ 'photoshopped' to see how many pounds they had­ to skim off to make her look like that.

    From Phil, on Wed 28 Oct 8:30AM

  13. tong jin are you the one who never know where he cames­ from ad the one who thinks he is bigger than life­ ????? what would happen if you touch th azz of a bee­ ?
    @ gallas i notice that too.

    From Mashaa m, on Wed 28 Oct 7:56AM

  14. tong jin are you the one who never know where he cames­ from ad the one who thinks he is bigger than life­ ?????

    From Mashaa m, on Wed 28 Oct 7:52AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    At the US Open Srena was foot-faulted by an asian lines­ judge. That started her tirade. It's not the­ linesperson fault if her feet are too big. Any her­ feet matches her thighs, head and mouth just to mention­ a few thing that are too big.

    She is the perfect­ example of the "UGLY" American in all senses­ of the word. I had no doubt about the ugliness part­ when I saw her in the buff. How nauseating. The public­ censors should do something about it.

    From Tong Jin K, on Wed 28 Oct 5:45AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Why do the blacks use the word racism at a drop of a­ hat. All these years they've been using it as a­ crutch for their shortcomings.

    As I see it Serena (old­ tree-trunk-thighs) can only get a fair game of tennis­ if the line judges and umpires are black. Where she is­ concerned asians are deemed racists if they decide­ against her.

    Is racism a one-way street? Aren't­ there blacks who are also0 racist? Serena should­ retire from tennis and take up Disney's offer to­ act with Sharapova in the remake of Beauty and the­ Beast. Where she is concerned no-make up required. ­ Thank goodness Disney doesn't show nude scenes. ­ That would be some kind of horror movie.

    From Tong Jin K, on Wed 28 Oct 4:49AM

  17. hey Gallas,there is no more any morality in this­ world.Eurosport makes its money by promoting­ racism.They diss the best tennis female pair ever and­ get good ratings by majority white fans and­ audiences.What do you expect?

    From Eel, on Wed 28 Oct 1:25AM

  18. serena is a good player.

    From penangan.milah, on Wed 28 Oct 12:52AM

  19. that`s why i love SERENA WILLIAMS . WHEN SHE WANTS IT ,­ SHE GET IT. S.KUNETZVA IS THE only powerful menally­ strong russian wta active player , demonstrating a­ bright & superb TENNIS ,WICH MADE HER WON­ ROLANDGARROS .But
    still she didn`t manage to grab a­ set against serena williams . serena was 2 set point­ sdown 2day and she saved them . when serena saves match­ points , she always win the championship ,but now she­ saved 2 setpoints that`s even prove how determinant is­ she.
    so i think she`ll win the tournament . and we as­ ARABS r honored to have Doha`s title again go for a­ williams.

    but i still give credit to KUznetzuva she­ played a nice match. i think she`ll b the runner up for­ the maroon grup and . the final as will .she`ll beat­ dementieva and venus.

    From abdurrazeg a, on Tue 27 Oct 11:48PM

  20. I am pleased by this result, Serena is my favourite­ tennis player ever and i think she is the best and­ deserves the number one title. Hopefully she will get­ it and end the year with it. Yes, I also agree everyone­ should stop slamming Safina, she is a good player. I­ personally believe she doesn't deserve the number­ one title but she worked for it and at the minute she­ is the number one, the only person who can change that­ it Serena. So go S, im counting on you :) Good luck­ against Venus tomorrow!!

    From ryancraig4444, on Tue 27 Oct 11:41PM
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