No. 3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia has sailed into the third round of Australian Open 2010, recording an easy win over countrywoman and world No. 39 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets on Wednesday.
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A quarter-finalist here last year, Kuznetsova used the opening games to find her range. Once she found it, she never looked a loser, taking the second-round match 6-2 6-2 in just over an hour.
Both players dropped their serve at the beginning of the match, and serving became the deciding factor in the first set; Kuznetsova was broken again later in the set, but her less-experienced opponent was unable to hold serve until the second set.
On set point, Kuznetsova lost her balance and fell, but that did not stop her forehand down the line passing Pavlyuchenkova at the net to take the first set.
Kuznetsova said she enjoys playing on Rod Laver Arena but could have served better in the first set.
“Overall I think I played aggressive. I played well. The only thing I lost two serves in the first set. I had very low percentage, 40 per cent. I don't think is good enough,” she said.
Pavlyuchenkova showed more fight in the second set, with a hold of serve in the first game giving her the confidence to dictate play. But Kuznetsova looked very comfortable in front of a modest Rod Laver Arena crowd, using the time between points to work on her football juggling skills.
“[Juggling] just distracts me and it's better for me. Leaves the tension away. Also I entertain people. It's also nice. I'm just being myself, being creative, doing things I have to do, and enjoying it. I don't do today my best today yet. I can do better [smiling].”
Some of her best tennis skills were on show though, with her cross-court backhand in particularly damaging form, but it was a fierce forehand winner that sealed the second set and the match.
Kuznetsova will play the winner between Aravane Rezai and Angelique Kerber in the third round.
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