ASB Classic
Another Top Player For 2011 ASB Classic
Two-time Grand Slam winner, Svetlana Kuznetsova is coming to the ASB Classic for the first time.
Two-Time Grand Slam Winner Heading To ASB Classic
Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No2 Svetlana Kuznetsova has been confirmed for the 2011 ASB Classic featuring the Kia Motors Singles and Doubles
Currently ranked at 27 in the world the Russian talent has 13 career singles titles and 14 doubles titles to her credit.
The 25-year-old first came to the attention of the world in 2003 when she reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. However it was the following year that she really hit the headlines winning the 2004 US Open beating Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals and Elena Dementieva in the final.
Her second Grand Slam title was in 2009 at Roland Garros as the seventh seed where she defeated second seed Serena Williams in the quarters and Dinara Safina in the final.
There have also been two finals appearances in Grand Slams – Roland Garros 2006 and US Open 2007. In total Kuznetsova has made the quarterfinals or better of Grand Slams on 11 occasions.
By her own high standards 2010 was not a premier year, however Kuznetsova still won the title at San Diego beating the likes of Yanina Wickmayer, Flavia Pennetta and Agineszka Radwanska.
There was also a semifinals appearance at Montreal and fourth rounds at the Australian and US Opens. Unfortunately illness forced to her to end her year earlier than usual to recover fully and prepare for the new year.
“I took a couple of weeks off end of October to the beginning of this month. It was great to have a good rest, see my friends, visit my parents in St Petersburg and to enjoy the time being at home and not being on the constant run. Now I have the team of my international coaches that gathered together in Moscow to work with me on preparation for the next season. I am going to practice in Moscow until beginning of December and then travel to Dubai to continue my training there until I head to Auckland on December 27,” says Kuznetsova.
“It wasn't an injury that I had. I withdrew from Moscow due to my middle ear problem that I got after being very sick with flu and high fever the week before the Tokyo event and when I decided to fly to Asia and play the tournaments as I didn't want to miss it and was hoping to defend my Beijing title. Well, now I am well and all ready to work hard and start it all over again.”
“It wasn't an injury that I had. I withdrew from Moscow due to my middle ear problem that I got after being very sick with flu and high fever the week before the Tokyo event and when I decided to fly to Asia and play the tournaments as I didn't want to miss it and was hoping to defend my Beijing title. Well, now I am well and all ready to work hard and start it all over again.”
It will be the first time Kuznetsova has played in New Zealand and she is looking forward to seeing what it is like for real after hearing so much about it.
“I always enjoy coming to new places and explore local culture and food and I am very much looking forward to seeing New Zealand. I know from other girls who were playing in Auckland that the management is great and players get the best reception and love it over there. I know that New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries (thanks to Lord of the Rings movies), but I am very much excited to come and see it for myself.”
Throughout her career she has accumulated over US$15million in career prizemoney some of this from doubles where she teamed with Alicia Molik to win the Australian Open title in 2005 and has been runner up in doubles at the 2003 and 2004 US Open, Roland Garros and Australian Open in 2004 and made the final at Wimbledon in 2005.
“To have a player the calibre of Svetlana is a great kudos for the ASB Classic. She is quality player and has two Grand Slam titles. Having her in the field adds an extra bit of spice to the tournament.
Svetlana is known to be a real athlete and has a personality to match. It is the first time she has played in New Zealand and I strongly believe tennis fans are in for a real treat watching her play
at the ASB Classic in 2011,” says ASB Classic tournament director, Richard Palmer.
Kuznetsova adds to the elite group of Grand Slam singles winners who have played in a women’s international in Auckland since the start of a WTA event in the summer of 1985/86 – the players are Lindsay Davenport, Conchita Martinez, Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce, Anastasia Myskina and Francesca Schiavone.
Kuznetsova comes from a sporting background with her father, Alexandr Kuznetsov the cycling coach of six Olympic champions and world champions and now coach of Lokomotiv (best cycling club in Russia). He also coached Svetlana's mother, Galina Tsareva (six-time world champion and holder of 20 world records) and Svetlana's brother, Nikolai Kuznetsov (silver medalist at 1996 Atlanta Olympics).
Kuznetsova also tried cycling in her early years, but it did not suit her and instead she moved to Spain when she was 13 years-old for better training and coaching also leading her to speak fluent Spanish.
It’s alleged that despite training in Barcelona, the Spanish Tennis Federation did not see Kuznetsova as a possible future champion.
Already confirmed for the tournament is former world No1 Maria Sharapova and defending champion, Yanina Wickmayer.
