Kuznetsova stops Sam in semis

Kuznetsova stops Sam in semis

5 Jun 2009

AAP

Samantha Stosur’s golden run at the French Open ended with a three sets loss to Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in a tough semifinal clash on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Queenslander, who achieved her best-ever grand slam result at Roland Garros, lost 4-6 7-6(5) 3-6 in a centre court encounter that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours.

See photos from Sam’s semifinal

Stosur, who was seeded 30th, was the first Australian woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros since Nicole Bradtke (nee Provis) in 1988.

While she failed to book a berth in the final against Russian world No.1 Dinara Safina, Stosur’s consolation prize will be to see her ranking shoot up by at least 14 places to No.18 based on her performance in Paris.

Stosur endured her toughest match of the Open against Kuznetsova, who had to fight hard to keep ahead of the Australian after she launched a mighty comeback from being one set down and 5-2 behind in a second set tiebreak.

After the match, Stosur said she was disappointed to lose her first ever grand slam semifinal but was trying to look on the bright side.

“Obviously losing you’re always disappointed, but I think there’s so many positives I can take from this week and also this match,” she told reporters.

“So, yeah, I’ll be disappointed, but I’ll wake up tomorrow and know that I had a great two weeks here and definitely will be looking forward to the next time I come back.

“So there’s far more positives than negatives right now.”

Kuznetsova, who overcame world No.2 Serena Williams in a tough two-and-a-half-hour quarterfinal match 24 hours earlier, handled Stosur’s renowned kick serve with aplomb.

The Russian, who lost the 2006 final to Justine Henin, broke the Australian three times in the first set and again in the second to grab a 3-1 lead.

Stosur, cheered on by compatriot and doubles partner Rennae Stubbs as well as new coach Rene Moller, appeared frustrated but managed to break back in the eighth game to make it 4-4 thanks to the pinpoint accuracy of her forehand.

At times Kuznetsova appeared to be tiring, making two double faults and dropping her racquet before the pair launched into a tense tie-break.

Stosur began an almighty fight to come from 5-2 down to win five consecutive points and clinch the tie-break after the Russian misfired several returns.

The Australian had a break point in the third set which would have put her 3-2 ahead, but Kuznetsova refused to give in and broke back when a Stosur forehand crashing into the net then sent another wide.

The Russian hung on to wrap up the match after another of Stosur’s forehands hit the net.

Stosur said she had tried to fight for every last point when she was down in the third set.

“I felt like the match was still pretty even but I was 4-2 down,” she said.

“You know, I tried to the last point, but you go a break down in the third, it’s not as easy to try and get it back.”

Kuznetsova complimented Stosur on her match.

“In the tiebreak I think Sam just played so good rallies,” she said.

“She risked it and she made it. I give her credit for this.

“I think she stayed tough in the second set, so then I won the third set.

“You know, I still kept playing, not giving up.

“It was very tough.”

Kuznetsova will face compatriot Safina, who earlier outgunned Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3 6-3, in the final on Saturday.

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  • Coby

    Well done out there today Sammy!! Very proud of you!!

    Early on, and then late, you didn’t have your very best game, but you put up a great fight, and you made a great player have to work very hard to advance. For your first time past R16 in a Slam, you were amazing! Very nice comeback in the second set, and then again in the breaker; that sharp crosscourt forehand that painted the line at 2-5 down in the TB was a fantastic, clutch shot!

    So . . . we have a QF in the “5th Slam” at Miami, and a SF at RG; definitely have this thing moving in the right direction!

    Awesome work these last 10 days Sam, a very special time for you and for all of us! Hope you can take just a little time now to really appreciate what you accomplished!

    Good luck at Birmingham and Eastbourne!! It’s just gonna get better from here Sam!!

    jo/mo/bec/tommy . . . great work by the Paris Posse! Very glad you were able to get tickets for today. Hope you can still afford to make it home now! (LOTS of beer for the throat, Tommy!)

  • Peter

    The end of the second set was absolutely phonominal form both players and that is the best tennis I have seen Sam play…
    Congrats on a great 2 weeks, and making your highest ranking (OF 18) and GL for the rest of the year…
    That backhand for the break at 2/2 in the third was the tourning point and Sam just lost a little focus, but she has proven that she belongs up there with the liked of Kuzzy after coming back form 5/2 in the tiebreak (and especially after the volley shootout for Kuzzy to go ahead 4/1… Talk about a chance in mentality!!!

  • Amy

    Sam!!! Woooohoooo……. Awesome Work…..Finalist Wimbledon I can just see it now.

  • Trevor Giblin

    Congratulations Sam – you’re a winner whatever you do

  • Sime Streek

    Wow, what a fantastic tournament you’ve had. You really deserve to be up there, Sammy. Well done & bring on Wimbledon :-)

  • Rhys Cunningham

    Congratulations Sam!!!
    Losing in tough three set match against a top ten player in the semifinals of a Grand Slam (on a non preferred surface) is a champion effort. Good Luck Sam for Wimbledon hopefully you can go a step better and make the Final.

  • Jimmy

    Good run Samantha! I was pulling for you all the way, still am for your future grand slams….all the best to you…and this coming from an American!

    I wish we had more Aussie players make it big in tennis!

  • Tim

    Congratulations to an unbelievable tournament Sam!
    I was very happy I could even see some of your matches live on TV, a chance I didn’t get very often here in Germany =)
    I was always wearing my fan-shirt and the wristbands when you played, and till the semis it worked ;)
    You really played fantastic tennis, I wish you that you can continue your success in the grass-court-season. (I hope they’ll show you more often in German TV now…)

    Good luck for the next tournaments,
    your fan Tim from Germany

  • Des Platt

    Well done,Sam; you showed tremendous courage in fighting back when you were out of touch. Good luck in all the British tournaments from your oldest (? 51) fan

  • tommy

    when entering the tourney samson was 450/1 to make the final, ok not quite making the final, but i’d say im not saddened to have lost the £10 bet. Looking good for sodapops on the 660/1 shot of making the final, go the pops, 1 more set and our us open is paid for :)
    had a great rg tourney, the courts are really nice, but i suspect we should learn a bit of french for next time, tickets are a nightmare to get ;)

  • http://myspace.com/norwayoflife H’stae

    Nice french open, sad you’ll not be in final tomorrow, but Svetlana was too strong, she’s a great player. Semifinals on grand slam was already a victory, you did a great tournament. Hope to see you at this level for wimbledon. Congratulation Sammy !!!!

  • jonas is minted

    omg go the sodapops into the final!

  • tiborlil

    I was there, in Roland Garros, for both semifinals, as an IT journalist invited by a sponsor, seated on the second rank behind the photographers. I found Safina’s match really boring, since she’s hitting the ball flat like a cannon, but then I had the pleasure to see Sam play.

    She mixes grace and strenght, and she really plays a beautiful tennis… And she serves like, wow ! Sam, we where strongly supporting you – you heard us maybe :) – and I think everyone in the public fell for you. Thank you so much for a great, great match !!

    I think you need to believe a little more in yourself, that’s something maybe you can improve. But given your athletic qualities and your tennis, I’m sure you can become number one. Do it !

    Wish you the best in Wimbledon.

    A new frenchman fan

  • moca

    hello admin,
    has samson pulled out of birmingham? not that i care, cos i need a week of sleep b4 eastb and wimby.
    Good on ya sam, top 20 :) :)

  • Wayne in Perth

    its amazing to think how close you came to the Finals, but there’s always next year! And the next! At just 25 who knows how many more French Opens you’ve got left in you
    Anyway I’m sure a nice $$$purse to take home will help you quickly get over the loss!
    Keep going strong Sam, you go girl!!!

  • Evelien

    Wauw! Very impressive; good tennis @ RG. Lots of luck for the next tournaments!!!

    Greetings from the Netherlands! :)

  • Phil

    Yeah has Sam withdrawn from Birmingham for the sake of Sams fitness

  • Yuki

    YOU RULE SAMMY!!!!!!!!! You inspire us all! Also I loved the video on the WTA tour website! You and Renae look like you have heaps of fun together!:)

  • Sten82

    I think Svetlana won just because she has experience of play semifinals anв finals in a Grand Slams and just unforced errors did not let Sam beat Svetlana.But it was unbelievable match,especially second set and tiebreak.Sam,THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH for fight against Svetlana and THANK YOU for every single match in this Roland Garros.Semifinal in a Grand Slam it’s agreat achievement and i believe it’s just beginning.

  • MissSosbanFach

    What a great tournament for you! I was at your match against Wickmayer and was very impressed not only by your tennis but how you played with 95% of the crowd seemingly from Belgium!

    Next stop Eastbourne and Wimbledon where I’m sure you’ll continue the success!

  • Phil

    Yay Sammy has pulled out of Birminham and is resting for 1 week

  • Jaime

    Sam is gonna win her first title at Birminghan or at Eastbourne

  • charlotte

    Sam, We are already waiting for you next year at Roland Garros, We miss you!

    On the main chanel in France, they said today that you was the best revelation and it’s absolutely true.

    You are very nice, fairplay and gorgeous!

    Charlotte
    France

  • Dan

    What a gorgeous picture of Sam and Steffi, 2 great sportswomen, beautifull,athletic and a credit to themselves and their sport. Go Sam, Layne Beachley thinks you will be in the top ten and so do I,pretty soon too.

  • BenFalconetti1991

    Hello I’am French and nevertheless
    You are the player whom I prefer
    Continuous i like you

    Congratulations for you good route (course) has roland garros

  • moca

    TICKETS FOR USO OUT TOMORROW-unsure on time diff sry, im thinking 3pm in sweden tho. get labour day wkend, they are always a bugger to get.
    when is our forum arriving?

  • pauline

    Congratulations Sam for this beautiful tournament!
    I was in Roland Garros for your semi final and your match again Cirstea, and I discovered a wonderful player!
    The fisrt singles title on WTA circuit is near!! Good luck at Eastbourne and Wimbledon!

    A new french fan

  • coby_ no2

    yeah they should be out in about 30 mins. buying a random selection is always the best policy as is swapping!
    Grass looks good at queens, anyone of u guys made it there?

  • tommy

    tickets for labour day weekend already sold out :( thats not good :(

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