TENNIS Live

French Open - Final - Women

Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
Russian FederationS Kuznetsova66---
Russian FederationD Safina42---

62 comments - Leave a comment

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Nationality RUS
Date of Birth 27/06/1985
Height 1.74 m
Weight 73 kg

Dinara Safina

Nationality RUS
Date of Birth 27/04/1986
Height 1.82 m
Weight 70 kg
 

Live Comments

  1. 2-6 - And KUZNETSOVA DOES WIN THE FRENCH OPEN after Safina's second serve hits the top of the tape and bounces wide!

  2. 30-40 - Safina nets an attempted backhand down the line and Kuznetsova has a FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP POINT ...

  3. 2-5 - Kuznetsova consolidates the break by holding to 30. The world number seven is now just one game away from the French Open title despite a nervy forehand in the middle of the game that allowed Safina a little hope. But Kuznetsova diffused the tension with a spot of keepy-uppy after the ball came back to her and the world number one will have to serve to stay in this match after the change of ends

  4. 2-4 - And KUZNETSOVA BREAKS! Another forehand error from Safina, a down the line shot that lands wide, gifts Kuznetsova the break and possibly the match now. A very long and worried look up to coach Krajan suggests Safina is really struggling mentally just now and Kuznetsova is potentially just two games away from her second Grand Slam title

  5. 15-40 - A forehand wide followed by a forehand into the net, leaves Kuznetsova with two break points ...

  6. 2-3 - Safina begins brilliantly against serve quickly setting up a 0-30 lead. But a couple of errors later and Kuznetsova is back in the game, while a blistering cross court backhand that lands right in the corner gives the world number seven a game point. Safina then slaps a backhand return into the net and Kuznetsova escapes

  7. 2-2 - Another important hold for the world number one as Kuznetsova hits a backhand down the line just wide. Safina celebrates with a clenched fist and improved body language while Kuznetsova shoots a worried look in the direction of her camp. We could be witnessing a small shift in momentum here.

  8. 1-2 - Kuznetsova also holds to 30 despite a very well structured point from Safina, who peppers the world number seven's forehand side before going for the forehand winner down the line. But the final shot is pushed just wide by Safina and Kuznetsova remains in front

  9. 1-1 - A very important game for Safina as she holds to 30 when Kuznetsova hits out and into the net respectively. The world number one looked to be cruising towards a love game before Kuznetsova made a comeback but Safina dug in and is off the mark in this second set

  10. 0-1 - Kuznetsova holds for the first game of the second set after a brutal rally, despite Safina coming back from 40-0 down. These two players are hitting the ball really very hard and the noise level has gone up accordingly!

  11. 4-6 - More heavy hitting from the world number seven sees Safina beaten for pace as she hits a forehand into the net and KUZNETSOVA HAS TAKEN THE FIRST SET afetr 39 minutes

  12. 15-40 - Kuznetsova runs around a backhand and smacks a forehand across court for the winner. And it brings up two SET POINTS ...

  13. 4-5 - Safina breaks back to love as a nervy game from Kuznetsova sees the world number seven fails to find the court with consecutive backhands

  14. 3-5 - But Kuznetsova breaks at the third attempt hitting a massively heavy backhand right onto the baseline. The older of the two Russians will now serve for the set

  15. 30-40 - Safina meanwhile saves the second with a brilliant serve out wide followed by a backhand into the open court on the opposite side of the court

  16. 15-40 - The first goes begging when Kuznetsova hits a forehand just long in the middle of a long rally

  17. 0-40 - A very good return from Kuznetsova as she sets up three break points at the business end of this set ...

  18. 3-4 - Kuznetsova holds again to 15 to keep her nose just in front. Interesting stat about the world number seven. She has been in 28 finals in her career, winning only 10 and having to endure being the runner up an incredible 18 times! That's gotta hurt.

  19. 3-3 - Safina is nothing if not a fighter these days and recovers from 15-30 down with a great/brave serve out wide and heavy forehand into the open court on the opposite side before going on to hold

  20. 2-3 - Kuznetsova holds despite being forced to save a break point. The older Russian looked to be cruising to a comfortable service hold at 40-15 up before Safina worked her way back into the game and earned herself the break point. But Kuznetsova saved it by forcing Safina out wide on the backhand side before finding the open court with a forehand volley.

  21. 2-2 - Safina still looks a little nervy as she battles through her first service hold of the match to keep things level. Both these players have been in the French Open final before by the way, Kuznetsova losing to Justine Henin in 2006 and Safina being beaten by Ana Ivanovic last year. Both losses were in straight sets

  22. 1-2 - Much better on serve from Kuznetsova as she holds to love with a great inside out forehand pretty much on to the sideline

  23. 1-1 - Safina also struggles with her serve to open the game as she also looks nervy despite getting that opening game under her belt and we are back on serve as Kuznetsova breaks back immediately

  24. 1-0 - A very nervy start from Kuznetsova as Safina breaks. The world number one admittedly got a little lucky with a cross court backhand hitting the top of the tape and bouncing just on her opponent's side to bring up triple break point. Kuznetsova saves the first, pouncing on a shorter ball and firing the backhand away across court for a winner, but Safina takes advantage on the very next point when Kuznetsova hits a backhand into the net

  25. 0-0 - Righto then, the players are ready and it will be Svetlana Kuznetsova to serve first and get the clash underway ...

  26. 14:04 - The players are out on the court now, so it's time to inform you of the weather conditions. Basically, it's not great! It's been raining all morning, heavily. But with the rain having stopped we will be getting underway on time. The conditions are heavy though with the ball likely to pick up a lot of moisture

  27. 13:58 - We've still got a few minutes before the players are due to head out on court, so in the meantime why don't you check out our feature on the top five French Open finals

  28. 13:57 - So the answer to "Who's going to win?!" is basically "It's anyone's guess!"

  29. 13:56 - Perhaps more relevantly though are the meetings on clay where the head-to-heads are tied at 4-4. Two of those clay-court clashes have been this year with Kuznetsova defeating Safina 6-4 6-3 in the Stuttgart final before Safina gained a measure of revenge just one week later, triumphing 6-3 6-2 in the final in Rome

  30. 13:55 - Well, these two have met each other 13 times before with Safina edging the head-to-head record 8-5. The world number one has also triumphed five of the last six times they have played

  31. 13:52 - Ok, so who's going to win?!

  32. 13:50 - However we also are going to bring you LIVE game-by-game commentary and scoring right here throughout the match

  33. 13:48 - You can, of course, watch this final LIVE on British Eurosport and Eurosport HD (Sky 410/412, Virgin Media 521). Or alternatively if you can't get to a TV watch on your PC via the Eurosport Player. Click here to subscribe to the Eurosport Player

  34. 13:38 - Hello tennis fans, and welcome to finals weekend! World number one Dinara Safina is looking to win her first Grand Slam as she meets fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the French Open final at Roland Garros

WTA Race 2009

Points
1 Dinara Safina 7730
2 Serena Williams 7575
3 Svetlana Kuznetsova 5771
4 Caroline Wozniacki 5345
5 Elena Dementieva 5215
6 Victoria Azarenka 4450
7 Venus Williams 4396
8 Vera Zvonareva 3550
9 Jelena Jankovic 3435
10 Agnieszka Radwanska 3340

Full Table »

Comment 43 - 62 of 62

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  1. Kuznetzova deserved to win and thats the main point to­ be made. Safina didn't really show up for the­ match, there were points that she played great but they­ were out weighed by all the mistakes she was making and­ there was a lot of them. So well played Kuznetzova, a­ well deserved winner of her second grand slam

    From Daniel W, on Sun 7 Jun 1:28PM

  2. when the hell are we going to see a 3 set Final in a­ SLAM..Its been 3 years since we have seen one..!!Hope­ we see it this year...

    From Milot S, on Sat 6 Jun 8:46PM

  3. safina is not strong mantally....she have to lose a­ couple of Grand slams finals before she turn against­ her self..her mind get busy with that battle of proving­ that she is not a loser..that wil give her a­ distraction and take away the presure in grand slams­ matches by than she will win slams as long as her game­ good enough ther for.

    From Ra, on Sat 6 Jun 5:53PM

  4. Have anyone noticed a pattern here at the French Open.­ Since 2003, the conqueror of any of The Williams­ Sisters at any stage of Roland Garros will eventually­ win the French Open. Ask Myskina Anastasia, Justine­ Henin and now S Kuznetsova plus others that wasn't­ mentioned. Keep that in mind when betting on the games.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Sat 6 Jun 5:43PM

  5. I'm so very happy because Kuznetsova won the French­ Open, congrat. Svetlana!!!

    From viktoriakatona, on Sat 6 Jun 5:41PM

  6. Hi Chuks, your comment is sound, honest and unbiased.

    From Ndu, on Sat 6 Jun 4:32PM

  7. Does Safina suck or is Kuznetsova that damn good? I­ take the former! Few weeks ago Serena insinuated about­ who the true no. 1 player is and tennis fans wanted her­ head on a platter 'cause of her statement. From­ where i stand Safina is far from being no. 1 and Serena­ is RIGHT. I'm sure everyone enjoyed another­ lackluster tennis from the "no 1 player" in­ the world in Paris. Damn, i want my money back! Talking­ about mental and nerve melt down in set no.2, and yet­ she wasn't even playing against any of The Williams­ Sisters. This is where a true no.1 hold it together,­ fights back, take it to the decider and WIN. Not nerve­ break down and cry! There is no crying in baseball...i­ mean tennis! She blew it and now she's about to­ enter The Williams Sisters' territory[Wimbledon­ & US Open] Good luck to her 'cause she's­ gonna need it more than anyone else attempting to win a­ Grand Slam. Roger Federer, you up and on!

    From Chukwuemeka, on Sat 6 Jun 4:25PM

  8. @ webbedhop : "They are the least pretty finalists­ for a long time."
    You mean since 2003 Wimbeldon ?

    From Tim, on Sat 6 Jun 4:20PM

  9. What a disappointing one sided final...

    From Mar, on Sat 6 Jun 4:14PM

  10. It was so boring RG final. Once again Dinara played an­ awful final just like the one in AO. I wish her the­ best of luck in coming battles to prove that she­ deserve 1st place.

    From eddie, on Sat 6 Jun 4:13PM

  11. what's happening? how come comments sent are not­ posted??????????????? THAT SUCKSSSSSS!

    From valentino d, on Sat 6 Jun 3:54PM

  12. Congratulations to Svetlana- not a great match but a­ deserved win nonetheless.

    From caroline c, on Sat 6 Jun 3:51PM

  13. Wayne - why poor sportsmanship? She didn't cry or­ want attention herself. She has just lost ANOTHER­ final and will have the williams brigade commenting on­ her number one position again.

    From antoniobenetatos, on Sat 6 Jun 3:49PM

  14. Svetlana.....you deserved it! Congrats...
    Go on and­ lift the Wimbledon as well.... Svetlana all the way!

    From Jacky, on Sat 6 Jun 3:49PM

  15. Yikes. Safina unraveled the last 4 games or so ... too­ bad. She couldn't put any kind of consistent flow­ together. It's like she has Plan A (swing, swing­ away) but nothing to fall back on. Give Kuz plenty of­ credit for adding variety to her game and not letting­ Safina back into the match.

    From Mike, on Sat 6 Jun 3:49PM

  16. Its So sad that Safina cant prove to all his critics­ that she deserve to be the No.1 Player in womens­ Division but regarding with this tournament she showed­ to all that she can be a great Grandslam Champion in­ Near Future!!!!

    Congratulation to Svetlna­ Kuznetzova!!!!
    You deserve to be in Top 4 in womens­ division!!

    From makulitsulit, on Sat 6 Jun 3:45PM

  17. optimistic here too that Svetlana will end the season­ as number 1! so happy! needed it since nadal lost. T_T

    From hala_vera, on Sat 6 Jun 3:45PM

  18. I cried for dinara as she deserved better, however big­ congratulations to sveta for a strategy well executed.

    From sanchez.santos, on Sat 6 Jun 3:45PM

  19. Vic M - your comments are a dsgrace - post a picture of­ yourself and let us comment on you - how would you like­ that

    From antoniobenetatos, on Sat 6 Jun 3:44PM

  20. I'm sooooooooooooooooooo happy KUZENTSOVA won the­ womens'French Open.... SAFIN is a flash in the­ pan...poor sportmanship

    From wayne m, on Sat 6 Jun 3:44PM
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