KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA (Svetland Alexandrovna Kuznetsova); in Russian (Светла́на Алекса́ндровна Кузнецо́ва)
Russia
Born 27 June 1985 in St. Petersburg, Russia
Height: 5' 9" (1.74m)
Plays: Right-handed with a twohanded backhand.
Nicknames: "Kuzzy", "Sveta"
Trademarks: usually wears a headband, tattoos
[Active 2000-present]
She's Got Legs: Svetlana Kuznetsova: Two-Time Slam Champion of the United States (2004) and the French (2009)
Sports quite literally runs in her blood, her father being an Olympic cycling coach, her mother a 6 time world cycling champion, even her brother won an Olympic medal in the sport. This heritage has served her well, for Kuznetsova scampers around the court with sturdy legs. Physically imposing, her strong core is an asset that kept her a contender for titles for over a decade.
At the age of 7 the young blonde first picked up a tennis racquet. At 13 was sent to train in Spain. Here she honed a clay court style game with a lot to topspin off both wings. Clay has always been her favorite and most successful surface. It also made her fluent in Spanish. By 16 she was the top junior in the world and on tour, in 2002 and 2003 steady progress was made with a top 50 ranking. Perhaps more crucial for her development was being doubles partner to the legendary Martina Navratilova. This allowed her to stand beside a champion on court and develop a net game to round out her baseline play.
2004 saw all this bear fruit. 3 of the 4 majors went to Russian that year. Kuznetsova was still in braces when she upset fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3 7-5 to win the US Open. On this occassion she was perhaps too young to let nerves affect her, instead it was the older Elena who folded under pressure. Basically shy and unprepared for the spotlight, Kuznetsova predictably faded in 2005 to fall from #5 to #19.
Rebounding in 2006, Sveta was probably at her peak from 2006 through 2009. 4 out of 5 of her best slam results came in this period.
2006: Finalist at the French, losing 6-4 6-4 to Justine Henin.
2007: Finalist at the US Open, losing 6-1 6-3 to Justine Henin.
2008: Semifinalist at the French-falling to Dinara Safina.
2009: Won the French Open with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Dinara Safina. She defeated Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
Justine Henin was her bete noire-holding a 16-3 winning record vs Sveta. More often than not Henin's nerves were superior.
Tight matches have a habit of slipping through her fingers: some of most notable examples have been in 2004 in the 4R at Roland Garros, a 1-6 6-4 8-6 loss to Myskina where she held mp at 6-5 third set. Myskina went on to win the event. This nightmarish scenario repeated itself at the French the very next year, where Kuznetsova held 2 match points vs Justine Henin. Justine recovered to win 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-5 and marched on to take the title.
"Kuznetsova can alter the spin, speed and height of her shots and owns the variety that plays well on clay" but since her recent failures, "consistency has eluded her, and she's prone to flakiness and frustration under pressure."-Richard Pagliaro of ESPN.
Few can match her in fitness. Kuznetsova lost an epic match in 2011 to Francesca Schiavone at the Australian Open. It was a epic all-court battle of thrills that lasted over 4 hours. Schiavone won the 4R match 6–4 1–6 16–14. Kuznetsova held 6 match points in that last set, failing to convert. Both women left the court to a standing ovation.
Another example of her toughness was winning 22 matches in 3 sets over the 2016 season. This is a WTA record in the 2000s.
The aging Russian has been afflicted with several injuries from 2012. This and the grind of the tour has hurt her rankings-a huge effort to get back into the top ten for the 6th year in 2016 was a temporary blip. On July 16th 2018 she fell out of the Top 100 for the first time since 12 August 2002-an incredible run of 831 weeks.
Known as a jock, Kuznetsova was never going to be a glamour queen of the tour. What she has proved to be was extremely friendly, likeable, and down to earth. Tour insiders declare she is often the funniest and best interview on tour. No one has much negative to say about Kuzzy-a rarity on the diva-full WTA tour. Dedicated to Mother Russia, she has often played for her nation in Federation Cup, her efforts key in Russia's 2004 and 2008 victories.
She is reticent about her private life.
When it all ends the Russian will have earned her rest after tennis journey certain to one day get her into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Grand Slam singles resume: (2 Won, 2 Finals, 1 Semifinal, 10 quarterfinals)
Australian Open: Quarterfinalist (2005, 2009, 2013)
French Open: Won (2009); Finalist (2006), Semifinalist (2008); Quarterfinalist (2007, 2011, 2013-2014)
Wimbledon: Quarterfinalist (2003, 2005, 2007, 2017)
US Open: Won (2004); Finalist (2009)
Grand slam Doubles (2 titles and 5 finals)
Won 2005 Australian (w/Alica Molik) and 2012 Australian (w/Vera Zvonareva)
Kuznetsova has been a doubles finalist at all 4 majors.
Career-high Singles ranking: #2 on 2007-09-10
Carrer-high Doubles ranking: #3 on 2004-06-07
WTA Year End Rankings
2020: #36
2019: #54
2018: #107 (1st year outside top 100 in 17 years)
2017: #12
2016: #9
2015: #25
2014: #28
2013: #21
2012: #72
2011: #19
2010: #27
2009: #3
2008: #8
2007: #2
2006: #4
2005: #18 (#8 in doubles)
2004: #5 (#8 in doubles)
2003: #36 (#7 in doubles)
2002: #43
2001: #259
2000: #889
Personal:
Coached by Guillermo Cañas; fitness trainer is Marco Panichi ... Father is Alexandr Kuznetsov, cycling coach of six Olympic champions and world champions and now coach of Lokomotiv (best cycling club in Russia); 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) ... Began playing tennis at age 7 ... Favorite movies are Love Actually and Save the Last Dance ... Never leaves home without her iPod ... Best tennis memories are winning 2004 US Open final and 2009 Roland Garros final.
Career Highlights:
SINGLES
SINGLES
Winner (18): 2018 - Washington DC; 2016 - Sydney, Moscow; 2015 - Moscow; 2014 - Washington DC; 2010 - San Diego; 2009 - Stuttgart, Roland Garros, Beijing; 2007 - New Haven; 2006 - Miami, Bali, Beijing; 2004 - Eastbourne, US Open, Bali; 2002 - Helsinki, Bali.
Finalist (24): 2019 - Cincinnati; 2017 - Indian Wells; 2016 - Miami; 2015 - Madrid; 2014 - Oeiras; 2011 - Dubai; 2009 - Rome; 2008 - Sydney, Dubai, Indian Wells, Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Beijing; 2007 - Doha, Indian Wells, Berlin, Rome, US Open; 2006 - Warsaw, Roland Garros; 2005 - Warsaw; 2004 - Dubai, Doha, Warsaw, Beijing.
DOUBLES
Winner (16): 2013 - Moscow (w/Stosur); 2012 - Australian Open (w/Zvonareva); 2009 - Miami (w/Mauresmo); 2006 - Eastbourne (w/Mauresmo); 2005 - Australian Open, Miami (both w/Molik); 2004 - Gold Coast, Doha (both w/Likhovtseva); 2003 - Gold Coast, Dubai, Rome, Toronto, Leipzig (all w/Navratilova); 2002 - Sopot, Helsinki, Tokyo [Princess Cup] (all w/Sánchez-Vicario).
Finalist (15): 2007 - Dubai (w/Molik); 2006 - Dubai (w/Petrova); 2005 - Dubai (w/Molik), Wimbledon (w/Mauresmo); 2004 - Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Roland Garros, Eastbourne, US Open (all w/Likhovtseva), Bali (w/Sánchez-Vicario); 2003 - US Open (w/Navratilova); 2002 - Bali, Tokyo [Japan Open] (both w/Sánchez-Vicario).
ADDITIONAL
Russian Fed Cup Team, 2004, 2007-12, 2015-16; Russian Olympic Team, 2004, 2008, 2016.
Kuznetsova in 2014
Sources:
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Brian Viner interviews Svetlana Kuznetsova: ‘In Britain the [A delightful interview from 2008 that captures her character]
Svetlana Kuznetsova - What Happened Post 2009?
Svetlana Kuznetsova | WTA Tennis
Svetlana Kuznetsova out of the Top100 for the first time...
Hightlights from the 2009 French final:
