941A48CB-2B8D-4DC2-AF2D-670F007A2CC6
By Adrianna Outlaw
© Tony Chang/Chang Photography
(August 8, 2010) A shaky Svetlana Kuznetsova hit the wall late in the second set and hit the bottle before serving for the third. In a nerve-wracking second-set collapse that left her shaking, Kuznetsova failed to serve out the match at 5-4, blew a 4-0 tie breaker lead, choked on four championship points and played the role of philanthropic force in handing Agnieszka Radwanska the second set of today's Mercury Insurance Open final.
Playing in her first final since she beat Radwanska in the Beijing championship match last October, Kuznetsova wanted this title so badly she very nearly gagged on her desire.
Settling her nerve and calming her serve after the second-set meltdown, Kuznetsova paused to drink some water and combat dry mouth before serving for the title in the third set. The fact that she could swallow at all after her pressure seemed to shrink her wind pipe to the size of a PEZ dispenser's neck was a positive sign.
The two-time Grand Slam champion transformed the horror into humor in rebounding from her implosion to capture the San Diego title with a 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3 victory at the La Costa Resort and Spa.
"This just made me stronger," said Kuznetsova. "It didn't kill me, I didn't kill myself in the third set.
Maybe I just lost my concentration. Maybe I didn’t play finals for so long. I was confused a little bit. It’s really funny for me now that I won the match. But if I would have lost the third set, I would feel like, ‘Oh, my gosh, should I (quit) playing tennis?’ "
The 10th-ranked Radwanska fought hard, but came up short in her quest for her first title since winning Eastbourne in June of 2008.
"After a match like this, it's always disappointing when it's a long, very tough match," Radwanska said. "I think it's much easier to lose 6-1, 6-1 and have no chance. But if it's a match like this, it hurts."
Conceding she was shaking after choking away the second set, Kuznetsova took a near seven-minute break to change her clothes and her mind-set before starting the third. She invoked a short-term memory loss to earn her most meaningful win of the season.
"I just tried to forget. I was very mad at myself," Kuznetsova said. "I didn't play finals in long time and it was very important to me. I just wanted to win it. I just started to shake I was so embarrassed but then I get myself together."
The complex and nervy saga saw both women get tight and Radwanska register the first break of the final set before Kuznetsova came back. Breaking back for 2-all, Kuznetsova began to strike the ball with more authority to force the lighter-hitting Radwanska to counter on the run.
The 2004 US Open champion broke again for a 4-2 lead then blasted a bold backhand to hold at 30 for 5-2. Radwanska held at love to shift the pressure back on Kuznetsova's broad shoulders.
In a show of support, the crowd applauded as Kuznetsova stepped up to serve for the championship again. This time there would be no gagging.
A service winner, stinging forehand down the line and a biting backhand crosscourt brought Kuznetsova to her fifth championship point. She closed with a backhand down the line and broke into a wide grin of relief after finally ending a two hour, 35-minute struggle.
The 21st-ranked Russian is trying to work her way back toward the top 10 and said winning the title is a significant step on her way back. Kuznetsova is projected to rise to No. 17 when the new WTA Tour rankings are released on Monday.
"It's big. I just feel like I am back," Kuznetsova said. "I can play top level players and beat them. I am relieved."
Kuznetsova was reeling at the end of the second set.
Serving for championship at 5-4 in the second set, a tight Kuznetsova double faulted and fell behind 0-40. Kuznetsova buried a backhand into net to give Radwanska the break. It was 5-all.
Kuznetsova possesses more power than Radwanska and displayed it in slamming a 100 mph ace and forcing Radwanska into a timid backhand slice error to take a 4-0 tie break lead.
A Radwanska backhand down the line was initially ruled out, but the fourth seed challenged the call and replay showed the ball touched the back of the baseline. Instead of a 5-2 lead, Kuznetsova was up 4-3. When Kuznetsova's forehand swing volley skimmed the top of the tape and handcuffed Radwanska she had three championship points at 6-3.
That's when the 2009 French Open champion fell apart.
Kuznetsova followed a meek double fault burying a backhand into net to blow the first two championship points. On the ensuing 13-shot rally, Kuznetsova mis-timed a backhand so badly it very nearly missed the doubles alley completely.
Then it was Radwanska's turn to tighten as she double faulted and bounced her blue Babolat racquet off the court. Kuznetsova had a fourth championship point, but by that point she was so frazzled she dumped a double fault that would make even a hacker cringe, shanking a serve that missed the box by three feet.
"I think I did choke for the very first time in my life," Kuznetsova said. "I never had this choke before. I don't know why it happened. Here I couldn't make a ball."
Radwanska spun a forehand pass to earn set point at 8-7.
Kuznetsova ran around a backhand and drilled a forehand return with such force it nearly knocked Radwanska to her knees. Out of a low squat, she managed to block back a backhand and won the second-set tie breaker.