Anna vs Kuznetsova
September 7, 2007
Friday's first match on Arthur Ashe will be an all-Russian affair as the 2004 USchampion, Kuznetsova, takes on the in-form semifinal debutante, Chakvetadze. The contest is the pair's third meeting on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and Chakvetadze will be desperate to record her first victory over her compatriot and reach her maiden Grand Slam final in the process. The 20-year-old Muscovite has enjoyed a tremendous season to date, capturing four titles - including Cincinnati and Stanford during the summer hardcourt swing - and firmly establishing herself in the world's Top 10. She is yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this fortnight and was particularly impressive during her, 64 61, triumph over the tenacious Shahar Peer in the quarterfinals.
However, if Chakvetadze is to continue this dream run in New York she will first have to overcome one of 2007's most consistent players, Kuznetsova. After four runner-up finishes this season the world No.4 finally got her hands on some silverware at New Haven in the week leading up to the USand judging by her straight-set dismissals of teenage stars, Victoria Azarenka and Agnes Szavay, in the past two rounds she has transferred this form into the year's final Slam. With both players in such a rich vein of form there is little to choose between them and if they reproduce their quarterfinal performances then it has the potential to be a classic.
"It's going to be an extremely tough match," Kuznetsova said of playing Chakvetadze, "she's extremely confident because of her tournament wins on the hardcourts. I think the difference will be in terms of experience as I've been in the semifinals before whereas it's her first time. Although she's playing great and will be able to play relaxed tennis as the pressure going to be on me."
"The last time I played her I lost really easily," Chakvetadze said of her semifinal clash with Kuznetsova, "on the clay in Warsaw last year. So I feel she will come in as favorite, but at the same time I've nothing to lose and no pressure which hopefully will allow me to play my own game and I will just go out there and try my best."
Click here for live point-by-point scoring
Here is what Matt Cronin thinks about the match:
I've been riding little Anna C's train for five straight matches, and there are few reasons to jump off now, except for the fact that playing an accomplished elder who has beaten her in their only two meetings and will be a much more difficult foe than figuring familiar peers, like Shahar Peer. Kuznetsova will not choke this match, so Chakvetadze will have to earn every point, and part of that will be going slightly outside of her comfort zone and taking a few more risks, especially when she gets opportunities to hammer Sveta's backhand.
Chakvetadze should start out carefully and make sure that Kuznetsova is locked in before she takes major risks, but once she is, she has to mix and match at rapid speed because the 22-year-old loves a straight-ahead match. But Kuznetsova doesn't like it when she can't find any rhythm with her Barcelona-taught, man's style clay-court game.
Kuznetsova has had a quiet year at No. 4 and would love another opportunity to play a USfinal. The last time she did in 2004, she clubbed Elena Dementieva in the final. In order to get there, she'll have to serve big, come in whenever possible, and try to rush Chakvetadze, a 20-year-old who is still vulnerable to an emotional breakdown. While it's easy to see the Grand Slam semifinal greenhorn getting frustrated, Chakvetadze's level has been super-high all summer long on hard courts, and she's not ready to fade yet. Chakvetadze will enter her first USfinal with a three-set win.