Kuznetsova crashes out to open her grass season in depair

Jun 18, 2008, 16:15 GMT

Eastbourne, England - Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova made a horror start to her grass season, crashing to a 6-2, 6-2 opening loss against Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki at the Eastbourne Championships on Wednesday.

The former US Open winner who played a Roland Garros semi-final this month, was unable to impose her game on the 17-year-old ranked 32 in search of her first career title.

Kuznetsova struck a massive eight double-faults in a tricky wind to sink any chances of a fightback.

'It was pretty disgusting. Everything on grass is just the opposite of playing on clay,' said Kuznetsova. 'She played very loose and I was so tight.'

There was a shock win for Australian Samantha Stosur, who needed just 14 minutes to advance 1-2 when unseeded 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo quit with a left thigh injury.

Kuznetsova will head into Wimbledon starting on Monday with little match practise after the disappointment in just over an hour.

Wozniacki, the 2006 junior Wimbledon winner, lifted the first set with ease and raced to 4-0 before Kuznetsova finally got a game on her way out the door.

'I just enjoy playing on grass,' said Wozniacki, daughter of a former German Bundesliga footballing father and volleyball player mother.

'I like the fast, flat game. Serve and return are so important. I'm surprised with how confident I felt. I had never won a set off of of a top player.

'This is my best win, against a world number four who has won a Grand Slam.'

While Kuznetsova was sinking, 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli was rising to the surface after a dreadful season so far in 2008.

The French player ranked 11th, tamed the wind with an easy 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Sybille Bammer as leading seeds began their campaigns after byes at Devonshire park.

Bartoli, who lost in the Wimbledon title match a year ago to Venus Williams, admitted that her fortunes have turned as the grass season begins.

Less than a month ago, the 23-year-old was yearning for a long break form the sport. 'I feel great, I'm healthy and eager,' said the second seed. 'This is the first week of the year that I've felt this good.'

Bartoli, whose victory in 59 minutes was only her ninth of a poor season against 14 losses, said she has gotten over her frustration.

'I've had so many injuries - my wrist, my knee, my leg, my Achilles tendon,' she said, adding that her latest problem - the wrist - is now fine.

'When you can't train at 100 per cent, it's tough. I feel that the bad things that have happened in the first part of the year will help me out later.'

Bartoli said that she has the game to deal with wind: 'I'm used to it. here, if it's not windy, it's raining.

'I can deal with it in my game, but she has a high toss on serve and maybe it tougher for her.'