By Alberto Amalfi | Monday, April 8, 2019
In her first match in six-and-a-half months, Svetlana Kuznetsova edged sixth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6), in a thriller in Lugano.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Svetlana Kuznetsova shook off rust at the start and showed rousing competitive spirit to close.
Contesting her first match in six-and-a-half months, Kuznetsova edged sixth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6), in a thriller on the red clay of Lugano, Switzerland.
More: CiCi Bellis Details Harrowing Injury Battle
The two hour, 22-minute battle was Kuznetsova’s first match since Guangzhou last September.
Knee surgery sidelined the two-time Grand Slam champion for more than six months.
Kuznetsova could not find her backhand in the opening set as Alexandrova cruised.
Alexandrova boomed a backhand winner converting her fourth set point to snatch a one-set lead on another service break.
The 33-year-old Russian responded scoring the early break in the second set. Kuznetsova stood firm under pressure fighting off three break points to hold for a 4-2 second-set lead.
A gripping hold sparked a grinding run. Kuznetsova rolled through seven straight games snatching a 3-0 lead in the decider.
Kuznetsova extended her lead to 5-3 only to see Alexandrova rally to level at 5-all.
In the decisive tie breaker, a jittery Alexandrova dumped her 12th and 13th double faults as Kuznetsova burst out to a 6-2 lead. Still, Alexandrova denied four straight match points, but all that good work dissipated with a pair of netted backhands to end it.
Wild card Kuznetsova will play wither Swiss Timea Bacsinszky or German Tamara Korpatsch next.
It was Kuznetsova’s first win since she defeated Indian qualifier Karman Thandi, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in Guangzhou last September.
No. 4-seeded Alison Van Uytvanck hung on for a topsy-turvy 6-2 0-6, 6-4, triumph over Tereza Smitkova.
Van Uytvanck will play either Fiona Ferro or Mandy Minella next.