After a lacklustre start to 2018, two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has returned back to winning ways at the Citi Open.
Prior to this week, the 33-year-old has only managed to win four out of 14 matches on the tour following her return from surgery. During the off-season, Kuznetsova underwent an operation on her wrist. Resulting in her missing the Australian Open for the first time since 2001 as she returned to competition in March.
“I feel good physically – I think I wasn’t ready and I came back too early [after wrist surgery] before, but now I took more time to prepare myself,” Kuznetsova told reporters earlier in the week. “I trained in Miami for two weeks and I feel much better, faster and lighter on the court, which I hope will help my game.”
Following her mixed start to the year, where she had only won back-to-back matches at one tournament, Kuznetsova has been caught off guard by her resurgence in Washington. She is yet to drop a set this week after disposing of Kristie Ahn, Ana Bogdan and eighth seed Yulia Putintseva. On Saturday she secured her place in her first final since March 2017 following a 6-2, 6-2, triumph against Andrea Petkovic.
“I didn’t expect such a good result so fast, because I haven’t been playing so well after my injury, after my surgery, so it took me some time to get back. I did some good preparation before this tournament, and I’m feeling great,” Kuznetsova said following her win over Petkovic.
Despite her recent misfortunes and current ranking of 128th, Kuznetsova’s string of victories does not come as a complete surprise. Washington will be her 41st appearance in the final of a WTA Tournament. In total she has won 17 titles on the tour and appeared in 62 grand slam main draws.
Awaiting the former world No.2 on Sunday will be seventh seed Donna Vekic. The Croat defeated Zheng Saisai in her semi-final match. Vekic will be seeking her first title on a hard court since the 2014 Kuala Lumpur Open.
“I’m good friends with her. We practiced here before the tournament and we practice quite often together,” she said of Kuznetsova. “It’s going to be a great match.”
Kuznetsova is currently tied with Vekic in their head-to-head at 1-1.
