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Svetlana Kuznetsova has unleashed some early psychological shots ahead of her Australian Open quarter-final against three-time champion Serena Williams.
The Russian pounced on her one win from their five previous meetings as evidence that the American was not impenetrable.
Kuznetsova, the former US Open champion, beat Williams in Germany in 2007 6-3 6-3 while Williams won their first two and last two encounters, the most recent being a three-set slog in Miami last year.
“I haven’t played her that many times but she serves big and lots of things depend on her serve,” Kuztensova said.
“I’m fine with it, it’s not like I cannot play her or something. I feel comfortable and I don’t think I make her that uncomfortable that much either.
“I know I can beat her. I beat her in Stuttgart once very comfortably. I was playing an unbelievable match by then, but she beat me next time and this is tennis,” Kuznetsova said.
Williams came into the tournament as second seed while Kuznetsova is ranked eight but she says the difference is irrelevant.
“I don’t think there is a huge space between players in the top eight or 10. I think everybody can win, it depends on the day. I just want to go out there and play my game.”
In any case, she believes she is better now than at any time in 2008 when she was a finalist in five WTA events, due to key modifications to her game taking effect.
“I’m getting better and better,” she said. “It was a tough year for me – I made a few changes and it was pretty big for me. Now I’m looking forward to perform well, to enjoy my game and just to have fun on the court.
“I had some tough matches (here), especially my first one (a three-setter against Melbourne-based Russian Anastasia Rodianova).
“But I feel I’m improving and I’m looking forward to playing my next match.”
Kuznetsova, whose previous best Australian Open result was a quarter-final appearance in 2005, said she was aware of Williams’ favouratism but remained undaunted.
“I’m confident in myself and I just want to play my best and go out there with motivation and fight with spirit hopefully,” she said.
Williams, who has won her way into the quarter-finals with a string of straight-sets wins, is preparing for a slugging contest.
“She gets a ton of balls back, she’s extremely strong,” she said. “I think we have a similar game and I think it will be a great match.”
Williams won the Open in 2003, 2005 and 2007. She was handed her place in the quarter-finals when her fourth round opponent, Victoria Azarenka, retired in the second set suffering the effects of a virus.
2-SERENA WILLIAMS (USA) v 8-SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
Williams leads 4-1
2004 Rome, clay, Williams 7-5 6-0
2004 Beijing, hard, Williams 4-6 7-5 6-4
2007 Stuttgart, hard, Kuznetsova 6-3 6-3
2007 Moscow, carpet, Williams 7-6 (7-2) 6-1
2008 Miami, hard, Williams 3-6 7-5 6-3SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 27
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US21,989,507
Career titles: 32
Grand slam titles: 9
Australian Open win-loss record: 41-6
Best Australian Open performances: champion 2003, 2005, 2007SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
Age: 23
Ranking: 8
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,155,193
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 1
Australian Open win-loss record: 19-7
Best Australian Open performances: quarter-finals 2005, 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Williams $1.36, Kuznetsova $34-ELENA DEMENTIEVA (RUS) v CARLA NAVARRO SUAREZ (ESP)
First meetingELENA DEMENTIEVA (RUS)
Age: 27
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,763,591
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 21-10
Best Australian Open performance: quarter-finals 2009CARLA NAVARRO SUAREZ (ESP)
Age: 20
Ranking: 46
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US353,875
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 4-0
Best Australian Open performance: quarter-finals 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Dementieva $1.22, Navarro Suarez $4
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