PARIS -Svetlana Kuznetsova remained stoic walking to the net as the new French Open champion.
PARIS -Svetlana Kuznetsova remained stoic walking to the net as the new French Open champion.
She traded kisses on the cheek with opponent Dinara Safina, and only then did Kuznetsova allow herself a brief smile.
Not that she wasn't thrilled. The 2004 US Open champion now has a pair of Grand Slam trophies.
Showing uncharacteristic calm, Kuznetsova beat Safina 6-4, 6-2 in an all-Russian final on Saturday. Jitters have often betrayed Kuznetsova down the stretch in big matches, but she swept the final four games with steady play.
Instead it was the top-ranked Safina who seemed rattled. She double-faulted seven times, struggled with her movement and appeared near tears late in the match.
"Definitely it was a lot of emotions inside of me, but I control it," Kuznetsova said.
Four-time French Open champion Justine Henin and others have criticised Safina's ranking because she has yet to win a major.
She climbed to number one in April and will remain there through at least July, but she's now 0-3 in Grand Slam finals.
The loss ended Safina's 16-match winning streak and was the latest in a series of lopsided women's finals at Roland Garros. The last one to go three sets was in 2001, when Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Clijsters. - Sapa-AP
Calm Kuznetsova rattles Safina
PARIS -Svetlana Kuznetsova remained stoic walking to the net as the new French Open champion.
PARIS -Svetlana Kuznetsova remained stoic walking to the net as the new French Open champion.
She traded kisses on the cheek with opponent Dinara Safina, and only then did Kuznetsova allow herself a brief smile.
Not that she wasn't thrilled. The 2004 US Open champion now has a pair of Grand Slam trophies.
Showing uncharacteristic calm, Kuznetsova beat Safina 6-4, 6-2 in an all-Russian final on Saturday. Jitters have often betrayed Kuznetsova down the stretch in big matches, but she swept the final four games with steady play.
Instead it was the top-ranked Safina who seemed rattled. She double-faulted seven times, struggled with her movement and appeared near tears late in the match.
"Definitely it was a lot of emotions inside of me, but I control it," Kuznetsova said.
Four-time French Open champion Justine Henin and others have criticised Safina's ranking because she has yet to win a major.
She climbed to number one in April and will remain there through at least July, but she's now 0-3 in Grand Slam finals.
The loss ended Safina's 16-match winning streak and was the latest in a series of lopsided women's finals at Roland Garros. The last one to go three sets was in 2001, when Jennifer Capriati beat Kim Clijsters. - Sapa-AP
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