Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova (svit-LAH-nah kooz-nit-SO-vuh; Russian: Светлана Александровна Кузнецова; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player.

Kuznetsova was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her father Alexandr Kuznetsov is a cycling coach who has coached to success five Olympic and world champions. Her father's protégés include her mother, Galina Tsareva, a six-time world champion and holder of 20 world records, and Svetlana’s brother, Nikolai Kuznetsov, a silver medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Kuznetsova also tried out cycling in her early years, but it bored her. She focused on tennis instead and was sent to Spain when she was 15 years old, for better training and coaching.

Kuznetsova plays mainly from the baseline, is a very good mover on court and over the years has perfected a heavy and accurate forehand that troubles her opponents greatly.

She won her first—and as of early Spring 2006, her only—Grand Slam singles title at the 2004 US Open, where she defeated countrywoman Elena Dementieva in straight sets in an all-Russian final (the second in history after Myskina-Dementieva at the French Open of the same year).

Kuznetsova is also a very active doubles player and as of January, 2005 ranked third in the doubles rankings. Her second overall Grand Slam title came at the 2005 Australian Open's women's doubles event, where she teamed with Australia's Alicia Molik and defeated Americans Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu in the final. She reached five other Grand Slam doubles finals, with Martina Navratilova, Elena Likhovtseva and Amélie Mauresmo as her partners.

A year after her first Grand Slam victory, Kuznetsova became the first woman during the Open Era to lose in the first round as a defending women's champion at the 2005 US Open, losing to Ekaterina Bychkova. She was involved in a doping scandal and was accused of taking ephedrine but as the test was taken during unofficial competition the case was never investigated.

After an 18-month title drought, Kuznetsova won the Tier I Tournament in Miami on April 1, 2006, beating Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3, ostensibly making her a player to watch at Roland Garros in late Spring 2006. Svetlana was able to live up to expectations by making it to the Final at Roland Garros with a hard fought 3 set victory (5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-2) over the 17 year old Czech Nicole Vaidisova. In the final match, Kuznetsova fought hard but was unable to take the measure of the premier women's clay court player, Justine Henin-Hardenne, losing 4-6, 4-6.

She then survived a scare against Czech Kveta Peschke in the first round of the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, but lost in the third round to Chinese star Na Li.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (1)

Runner-ups (1)

Titles (6)

Singles (6)

Singles finalist (7)

• 2004: Dubai (lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne)
• 2004: Doha (lost to Anastasia Myskina)
• 2004: Warsaw (lost to Venus Williams)
• 2004: Beijing (lost to Serena Williams)
• 2005: Warsaw (lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne)
• 2006: Warsaw (lost to Kim Clijsters)
• 2006: French Open (lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne)

Doubles Titles (12)

1. 2002: Sopot (with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario)
2. 2002: Helsinki (with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario)
3. 2002: Tokyo Cup (with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario)
4. 2003: Gold Coast (with Martina Navratilova)
5. 2003: Dubai (with Martina Navratilova)
6. 2003: Rome (with Martina Navratilova)
7. 2003: Toronto (with Martina Navratilova)
8. 2003: Leipzig (with Martina Navratilova)
9. 2004: Gold Coast (with Elena Likhovtseva)
10. 2004: Doha (with Elena Likhovtseva)
11. 2005: Australian Open (with Alicia Molik)
12. 2005: Miami (with Alicia Molik)

Performance timeline

External link

1985 births | Living people | Russian tennis players | Olympic tennis players of Russia | Tennis players at the 2004 Summer Olympics | Australian Open champions | US Open champions

Swetlana Alexandrowna Kusnezowa | Svetlana Kuznetsova | Svetlana Kuznetsova | סבטלנה קוזנצובה | スベトラナ・クズネツォワ | Svetlana Koeznetsova | Swietłana Kuzniecowa | Svetlana Kuznetsova | Кузнецова, Светлана Александровна | Svetlana Kuznecovová | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 库兹涅佐娃