Svetlana Kuznetsova Is Playing Tennis With New Vigor

Written by: Staff on 9th January 2013

Svetlana Kuznetsova Is Playing Tennis With New Vigor

epa03191327 Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia celebrates her victory over Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Tennis Federation Cup semifinal match between Russia and Serbia in Moscow, Russia, 21 April 2012. EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV |

Svetlana Kuznetsova is one of the yo-yo women of world tennis. The Russian is either up, as proved by her US Open title in 2004 and the French Open win five years later, or down to the extent that late last year she elected to go into temporary retirement, taking six months off the WTA tour.

Taking such a time away from the sport can work two ways for somebody aged 27 years old, with a gaggle of youngsters more than willing to take over. However after a lengthy time questioning her priorities, Kuznetsova is now back with a new vigour for her sport.

Kuznetsova’s Apai Sydney International win over former world no.1 Caroline Wozniacki served notice of intent about the damage she might do at next week’s Australian Open and she now admits: “I felt like I have so much under me more to do in tennis.

“I will have time to stay at home after my career. I just need time break. I feel like I love the game and I have no reasons to stop. I had the break. I love to work. I love to sweat on the court.

I like to put everything to get over myself day by day when you’re in the heat where you’re struggling. I didn’t want to stop anyway.”

Kuznetsova’s Russian contemporaries such Anatasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina are all gone from the WTA scene but she is determined to continue. “ Myskina stopped because of the baby or whatever,” said Kuznetsova. “Dementieva stopped because she decided to stop. My time is a not to stop yet.”

But anyone can understand the frustrations that set in after so many years on tour and Kuznetsova, like most of her fellow Russians, started at a very young age. “When you play over and over every year the same tournament, the same players, it’s quite difficult, “ she said.

“I never feel sick of the game because I love tennis a lot. I have been sick from travel and sick from staying away from home, from my family, from my friends. But I never hated tennis. I love tennis and I enjoy tennis.

“Now I’m back, I feel fresh, and I feel like I want to play. But I been watching matches, and I didn’t really feel like I wanted to be out there. I needed very good rest.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Caroline Wozniacki, French Open, Sports, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Tennis News, US Open, Wta