Svetlana Kuznetsova – Wimbledon Ladies’ Tennis Player

Svetlana Kuznetsova is one of a group of young Eastern European women who are currently hogging the top ten of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. She ended the 2008 season ranked number four, and is joined by Serbs, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic in the first and second positions and Russians, Maria Sharapova and Anna Chakvetadze in the number three and eight berths.

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia returns the ball to Venus Williams of USA during the quarter finals of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, in south London, 05 July 2007.

Although she had an ordinary 2007 season, claiming only one WTA tour win by default when her opponent, Hungarian, Agnes Szavay retired hurt in New Haven, the young Wimbledon ladies’ tennis player, did enough at the Grand Slam events to guarantee her the number two place on the ranking.

‘Kuzzi’, as she is known by her fans, turned professional in the year 2000 but it was only four years later that she made people sit up and take note of her game. At the 2004 US Open she defied all her critics by winning the title in straight sets, 6-3 7-5, over fellow Russian, Elena Dementieva.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, Wimbledon ladies’ tennis player, is arguably a much better doubles player, and in 2005 with native, Alicia Molik, she claimed the women’s doubles at the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. The successful duo beat Americans, Lisa Raymond and Corina Morariu in straight sets, 6-3 6-4.

She has gone on to reach the finals of five other Grand Slam doubles events with partners Amelie Mauresmo, Martina Navratilova and Elena Likhovtseva.

Her record at Wimbledon has not been that inspiring. In 2006 she lost in the third round to Li Na, and in 2007 she reached the quarterfinals only to be taken out by the number 26 seed, and three-time champion, American great, Venus Williams in straight sets, 6-3 6-4. Kuznetsova finally had a shot at the world number one title at Wimbledon 2008, but was given a swift exit in the fourth round by Agnieszka Radwanska 6–4, 1–6, 7–5.

She did, however, make amends for her poor showing at the Grand Slams in 2007 by reaching the final of the US Open, beating Agnes Szavay and Anna Chakvetadze en route. Sadly she was exhausted by her semi-final match with Chakvetadze and went down without a fight, 6-1 6-3 to Justine Henin. Her performance allowed her to claim the number two berth for the first time.

Her end-of-year season did not overly impress. She made it to the semi-finals of the Kremlin Cup, and qualified for the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships but lost her round robin matches to Maria Sharapova, 5-7 6-2 6-2, and Ana Ivanovic, 6-1 4-6 7-5.

Although Svetlana has ability, there are several players who look better equipped to claim the Wimbledon 2009 singles crown.