7th seed Sevtlana Kuznetsova has moved into the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2017 after a 6-2, 6-4 win over 9th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Much had been made of this fourth round match-up between a two time former Grand Slam winner in Kuznetsova, and a former Wimbledon finalist in Radwanska. The match was going to be a battle between what many thought was Kuznetsova’s superior firepower and Radwanska’s, nicknamed “The Professor” excellent tactical skills.
Kuznetsova raced into a fast start, winning the first four games and going perfect with two breaks from two break points in the first set. Radwanska did at least settle to hold her final two service games of the opening set. The Pole could not prevent Kuznetsova from holding though, and the Russian duly took the set with a backhand winner. The first set lasted just thirty-three minutes.
Radwanska did make a better start to the second set, holding her opening service game. The 2012 finalist was in big trouble in the third game, but managed to get to deuce from 15-40, before saving another break point in holding serve.
The relentless attack from Kuznetsova continued though, and the Russian sealed the break in the seventh game before consolidating quickly. Radwanska tried hard to stay in the match, and at least avoided the double break scoreline of the first set.
Kuznetsova made hard work of serving for the match as Radwanska forced deuce. A pair of winners, one each from the forehand and backhand, was enough for Kuznetsova to equal her previous best run at Wimbledon by reaching the quarter-finals.
Kuznetsova will face a former Wimbledon finalist in the quarter-finals. She awaits the winner of the match between World no.1 and top seed Angelique Kerber and former Roland Garros winner Garbine Muguruza. Given that both women are in indifferent form, Kuznetsova could well fancy her chances of reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time.
