Svetlana Kuznetsova has survived a close first round match against Australian Anastasia Rodionova to advance to the second round of Australian Open 2009 in three sets, 6-2 3-6 6-3.
Eighth seed Kuznetsova was pushed by Rodionova, who surprised the 2004 US Open winner in the second set with a spirited comeback.
Rodionova rallied in the second set after going down in the first set 6-2, breaking the Russian’s serve in the opening game only to be broken back in the next game.
Rodionova fought back and broke Kuznetsova at 2-2 and again at 5-3 when Kuznetsova was serving to stay in the set.
With the match into a deciding set, Rodionova needed a medical time-out early in the third set to address an ankle problem. While she returned to the court, the experienced Russian was too strong for her 26-year-old opponent, breaking her in the first and last games of the set to take the match an hour and 40 minutes.
Kuznetsova will play German Tatjana Malek in the second round. Malek defeated Ayumi Morita of Japan 7-6(4) 6-2 in her opening round match.
Quick facts
Kuznetsova had 28 winners to the Australian’s 18
Rodionova had 25 unforced errors to Kuznetsova’s 23
Kuznetsova converted five of six break point chances
Kuznetsova served three of the four aces in the match
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