Kuznetsova stays on course at US Open
Kuznetsova beat fellow Russia Elena Dementieva to the 2004 title
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Monday, 03, Sep 2007 09:37
Number four seed Svetlana Kuznetsova brushed aside Belarussian youngster Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-3 to book her place in the last eight of the US Open.
Azarenka was looking to add to her growing reputation with another high-profile scalp after disposing of Martina Hingis in the previous round, but her Russian opponent pounced on a tentative start and quickly established a stranglehold on their match.
The first five games all went Kuznetsova's way and, although Azarenka broke back to hint at a revival, she soon succumbed to a third service break and the loss of the opening set.
The unseeded 18-year-old started the second set in stronger form than she began the match, but an early 2-0 lead melted away in the face of Kuznetsova's pounding groundstrokes and the 2004 champion edged back ahead before nervelessly closing out the match.
"It was very windy and I guess she was quite nervous and was making a lot of unforced errors," said Kuznetsova.
"I didn't want to let her back into the match and I think I played well in the second set."
Agnes Szavay will attempt to upset Kuznetsova in the next round after coming through a more closely-fought match 6-4 7-6 (7-1) against Julia Vakulenko.
In the other quarter-final in the bottom half of the draw, eighteenth seed Sharar Peer awaits the winner of Anna Chakvetadze and Tamira Paszek after a 6-4 6-1 win over Agnieszka Radwanska.