Birthdays blues for Kuznetsova

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:37

Fifth seed Kuznetsova became the highest-profile casualty of the first week of the championships as Lisicki claimed a 6-2 7-5 victory on Court One.

The 19-year-old will now face 18-year-old Caroline Wozniacki, the ninth seed, in the fourth round on Monday.

“I’m just so happy,” said Lisicki, who needed five match points before sealing the biggest win of her career to date. I just kept fighting. It was tough but I’m so happy to have pulled it out.

“It’s a huge win for me because before Wimbledon I had not won a match on grass so I can’t believe I’m in the fourth round. My parents and best friend were here so it’s the best thing that could have happened.”

After taking the opening set, world number 41 Lisicki was also 5-3 ahead in the second and served for the match, but Kuznetsova broke back and then saved three match points to level at 5-5.

Lisicki, who has recorded the second fastest serve this week – at 122mph just 1mph behind Venus Williams’ heaviest – held serve to lead 6-5 and Kuznetsova looked set to do the same and force a tie-break.

But from 40-0 up the Russian failed to close out the game and was made to pay when she was unable to save a fifth match point as a backhand drifted wide.

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