Russians dominate in US Open quarter-finals
Kuznetsova will face Chakvetadze for a place in the final
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Carlos Moya and Juan Ignacio Chela were the first two men from the bottom half of the draw through to the quarter finals of the US Open at Flushing Meadows after winning awkward fourth round encounters. |  |
Wednesday, 05, Sep 2007 10:44
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze both won their quarter-final encounters at Flushing Meadows to set up an all-Russian semi-final.
Number four seed Kuznetsova beat Agnes Szavay 6-1 6-4 in just 64 minutes as she overpowered her teenage opponent.
The Russian quickly established a three-game advantage in the first set and never let Szavay gain a foothold in the contest.
Kuznetsova won 81 per cent of the points on her first serve and never lost a service game during the match.
It was a dominant display and, although Szavay managed to win four games in the second set, the Hungarian never looked like challenging the former US Open champion.
"I had so much energy out there and I thought I was nervous but I could control it and I'm really happy with the way I played in the first set," said the 22-year-old after the match.
Kuznetsova will face compatriot Chakvetadze after the sixth seed beat Israeli Shahar Peer 6-4 6-1.
The first set went with serve until Peer broke to go 3-2 ahead. However Chakvetadze immediately broke back and went on to take the set.
It was a stunning, see-saw match that continued well into the second set.
Shahar broke Chakvetadze in the opening game of the set but the Russian then won six games in a row to emphasise the gulf in class.
Despite the winning margin Chakvetadze said it had not been an easy match.
"It was a fight to the end and I try to play smart," she said.
"I just had to play smart and not rush myself. Then I just started to make less mistakes."