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Kuznetsova in doubt for AO

Kuznetsova in doubt for AO

Rob O\'Gorman Wednesday 14 January 2009 9 Comments »

Svetlana Kuznetsova is in doubt for the Australian Open after withdrawing from her quarterfinal match at the Medibank International Sydney today.

The Russian suffered an abdominal strain in her second round win over Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi on Tuesday and after warming up this morning, she opted to hand quarterfinal opponent Ai Sugiyama a walkover.

“I felt it a little bit before, but I thought, well, it’s just tight muscle.  Now every time I start to pull it feels worse and worse.  Yesterday I could manage to finish and win the match [but] I went to warm-up today and it was worse,” she told the media.

“For the moment physio’s telling me to rest two days maybe, not to do anything.  Maybe don’t play tennis also.”

“Then I’ll start to play little by little.  I [will] do MRI on site tomorrow to figure out what I have there and see how it can be managed to cure this problem to be better for Melbourne.”

It’s not the first time Kuznetsova has suffered the injury having played the 2006 French Open final with a similar ailment.

“I played French Open all tournament with this injury serving slowly,” she said.

“I know what it is, and I cannot let myself injure it even worse.  I have to be careful, and especially [because the] Grand Slam’s next week.”

“I need to see two, three days how it’s recovering.  It’s not terribly bad like I cannot laugh.  I can laugh.  The only thing, I cannot serve, and sometimes backhand is tough.”

The former US Open champion said it was disappointing to suffer an injury so close to the Australian Open.

“I’m very disappointed because I [have] been working very hard pre‑season.  I wanted to go out there today so much and play.”

“It’s very hard to take this decision, because me, to convince myself that I have an injury, it’s really tough.”

The Australian Open begins on Monday January 19.

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  • Ben

    Hope you can recover in time for the AO Sveta. But the most important thing is that you’re 100% healthy.

  • Emma

    U ROCK HUN!!

  • Julia

    Svetochek! Be careful with health because I want to see your best tennis in the future! Hope there is nothing bad with you.

  • http://www.gogle.com philip

    be strong and im sure tht u will be able to go through it..confidence..

  • http://www.mijean.be Mijean Rochus

    I hope she will recover just in time because it’s always great to see her play. The Austrelian Open is one of the biggest events in tennis. She has to be there because she is a top player.

    Get well soon ,

    Mijean

  • Nico

    Svetlana, I hope you make a speedy recovery sp you can not just play, but play well in Melbourne.

    Fingers crossed!

  • sammy j

    hope all is ok with your fitness and health very soon the tennis courts n tv screens r lonely without u on them. keep well KUTZY girl!

  • klaud

    I’m sad for you svetlana ,I hope you will all rignt for australian open but the healthy is more important than playing tennis.All the fan are with you.keep hope.

  • http://N/A Simon

    Dear Sveta,

    All the best for an expeditious full recovery in time for next Monday (19/01/09).

    The Melbourne Park courts very much suit your style of game.

    Hope to see you there in full flight over the next 2 weeks!

    Bonne Chance!

    Simon.
    Perth – Western Australia

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