Svetlana Kuznetsova ended her four-year WTA title drought Sunday, beating Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Citi Open in Washington, DC. The Russian is a two-time Major champion.
Nara is 22, and an excellent returner. She has one WTA title to her credit.
Kuznetsova smiled when asked about the drought: “It feels like it’s been too long.”
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Photo credit: Kiu (© Tennis Frontier)
Day 11 of the French Open features the remaining men’s and women’s quarterfinals. First up on Court Philippe Chatrier is the Italian Sara Errani (10), the 2012 Roland Garros finalist, and Andrea Petkovic (28), from Germany. Two-time Major winner Andy Murray (7) will then face off against local favorite Gael Monfils (23).
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (27) will play the rising Romanian star Simona Halep (4). Eight-time champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer (5) will conclude the day’s action.
The full schedule for Day 11 is listed below (Results to follow)…
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Court Philippe Chatrier – 2:00 P.M.
Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) d. Sara Errani (ITA) (10) — 6-2, 6-2
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) d. Gael Monfils (FRA) (23) — 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0
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Court Suzanne Lenglen – 2:00 P.M.
Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) — 6-2, 6-2
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. David Ferrer (ESP) (5) — 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1
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Court 1 – Not Before: 2:30 P.M.
Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) (3) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (3) — 3-6, 7-6(4) [10-5]
Not Before: 5:00 P.M.
Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (4) — 6-4, 6-4
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Court 2 – Not Before: 2:30 P.M.
Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) d. Timea Babos (HUN) / Eric Butorac (USA) — 6-2, 6-2
Not Before: 5:00 P.M.
Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) (16) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) (16) — 7-5, 6-3
Former Roland Garros champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat the German Angelique Kerber, the No. 8 seed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday afternoon, becoming the first woman to advance to the French Open quarterfinals. It was a significant victory for the unseeded Russian, who had recently lost a long three-setter to Kerber in Madrid.
Next up on Court Philippe Chatrier was the No. 1 seed, Serena Williams, also a former French Open champion, who beat the No. 15 seed, the Italian Roberta Vinci, 6-1, 6-3, setting the stage for the first women’s quarterfinal.
The Italian Sara Errani (5) defeated Carla Suarez Navarro (20) of Spain, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The final spot in the quarterfinals was determined when Agnieszka Radwanska (4), of Poland, beat the former French Open champion Ava Ivanovic (14), 6-2, 6-4.
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