Former world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova is likely to miss next month’s Australian Open after confirming that ‘she won’t be ready in time’ for the start of the new season.
The Russian hasn’t played on the tour since her second round loss to China’s Qiang Wang at the Guangzhou Open in September. Kuznetsova has been hampered by a wrist injury that forced her to miss the first three months of the tour this year. Overall, she has achieved a win-loss record of 11-13 in 2018. At the Washington Open, she defeated Donna Vekic to win her first title in almost two years.
“With great regret, I have to inform you that I don’t have time to recover by the beginning of the next season.” Kuznetsova wrote on Instagram.
“I have made a difficult decision together with my team and doctors: we will give my body time to recover from injuries and then begin intensive training.
“In the new few days, I’ll undergo intensive therapy and try to keep my body in good shape.”
Kuznetsova, who has won 18 WTA titles, is yet to outline when she will return to action. Should she miss the Australian Open, it would be the first time she has missed the same grand slam two years in a row since making her debut back in 2002. So far in her career Kuznetsova has played in 63 grand slam main draws, winning the 2004 US Open and the 2009 French Open.
The 33-year-old is currently ranked 107th in the world. Finishing the season outside the top 100 for the first time since 2001.
The Serena comments
Besides her physical issues, Kuznetsova has hit back at reports suggesting that she criticised 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams. In an article published by Tennis World USA, Kuznetsova was quoted as saying that Williams ‘gets allowed to do things that other players would never be allowed to do‘ on the tour. Earlier this year, Williams said she was unfairly being targeted by anti-doping authorities with the amount of tests being conducted on her. On one occasion, an official went to Williams’ house when she wasn’t there and refused to leave.
“I definitely know that she has such a weight that no one has on men’s Tour. Serena gets allowed to do things that other players would never be allowed to do. In the same situations, most of the tennis players would have been told: “Shut up”, they could have been threatened in some way.” Kuznetsova said, according to Tennis World USA.
Responding to the article, which was published on December 1st, Kuznetsova has accused the media of trying to ‘twist her words’ and ‘crush players’ in a series of tweets. The Russian made no specific mention of the website that published the article in her response.
“Why do they twist my words in an interview so tired of it.” She wrote.
“I have nothing against Serena, never had .. why do they always try to crush players in the press?”
In their head-to-head, Kuznetsova trails Williams 3-10.
