Svetlana Kuznetsova’s recent excellent results have come to a halt with a 6-3 6-2 defeat to Alona Bondarenko in the second round of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.
This is Bondarenko’s third victory over Kuznetsova, while Kuznetsova has won only one of their career meetings. The two have clashed on claycourts three times, and each time the Ukrainian was victorious.
Kuznetsova, seeded sixth in Madrid, won Stuttgart two weeks ago, and was runner-up last week in Rome.
The 46th-ranked Bondarenko will next play Anna Chakvetadze.
Additional info: The world No.7 Kuznetsova has a new coach, former top-ranked doubles player and current Fed Cup coach Larisa Savchenko, who will help her during the claycourt season. Savchenko seems to have a good idea when to let Kuznetsova go her own way.
“She’s very easy-going and relaxed and we have great communication,” said the 23-year-old Kuznetsova.
“She tells me little things and it helps me find my way out. For me, external opinions help, but it doesn’t have to be pushy and bring me down.” (photo by our reader Elisa)
