 | Born: 27/6/85 Nationality: Russian Seeded: 11 World ranking: 12 French Open best:
1st round (2003) Recent record:
2003: 1st round
2002: n/a
2001: n/a |
The 18-year-old has been the star of 2004 up until now, starting the year ranked 30 in the world and now closing in on a top-10 place. She is no unknown, having won her only two career titles to date back in 2002, but her performances this year have been spectacular.
Three defeats in finals were no disgrace, bearing in mind she lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne, Ana Myskina and Venus Williams.
The other major events of the year have seen her lose to Henin-Hardenne in the third round of the Australian Open and Amelie Mauresmo in the Berlin quarters.
Last year she lost in the first round on her French Open debut, but gave a sign of things to come when reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals a month later.
She may have picked up some tips from doubles partner Martina Navratilova as the pair won five titles in 2003.
And Kuznetsova could make real progress in the Grand Slams now her higher ranking means she will avoid the top players in the early rounds.
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