Mauresmo dismal in Dubai
Mauresmo dismal in Dubai 
From Richard Eaton in Dubai, UAE
Former Australian Captain February 29, 2008
SVETLANA Kuznetsova has defeated Amelie Mauresmo in the WTA Tour Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals, beating the former world No.1, from France, 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
The victory by the No.2 seed, from Russia ensured that Mauresmo has not won three successive matches since losing her Wimbledon title eight months ago.
“I started to play better in the
second set and there were times when I played some good tennis,” Mauresmo said, trying to make the best of another disappointing performance.
“There were still probably a few things here and there which cost me that second set, and I didn’t play the tiebreak as I expected, but she came up with some good shots when she needed them.”
Kuznetsova next plays Jelena Jankovic, the world No.4, from Serbia, for a place in a final she reached four years ago.
Jankovic celebrated her 23rd birthday with an encounter that lasted little more than 30 minutes as her opponent, Anna Chakvetadze, retired hurt after losing the first set 6-1.
Chakvetadze called the trainer for treatment for a troublesome back after only five games, and she also left the court and play was halted for 10 minutes.
But the break appeared to do little to alleviate the Russian’s discomfort and she retired after two more very brief games.
Mauresmo seemed likely to be defeated as heavily as Chakvetadze when Kuznetsova, striking the ball heavily and mixing great winners with a fairly high error ratio, went a break up in the second set, having won the first.
But Mauresmo levelled when her rival played an indifferent service game, and the Frenchwoman then broke for 5-3 as she began to play with more consistency. Mauresmo even had a set point at advantage point on her serve.
But Kuznetsova saved point that with a fierce and brilliant backhand cross-court drive winner, and Mauresmo’s challenge soon evaporated.
She delivered a double fault to go break point down - which was quickly converted by another of Kuznetsova’s clumping drives - and then played a disappointing tiebreak.
“She changed her tactics (in the second set) and she tried to come in more,” Kuznetsova said of her rival.
“But I gave her the break of serve myself when I was playing against the wind.
“I was not moving well in the second set and she played better, but I got lower in my level.
“You can see she’s not very confident but I don’t think she plays worse than one year ago.”
Agence France-Presse