Svetlana Kuznetsova was left frustrated after she almost came unstuck against Zheng Jie in the first round of the Pilot Pen tournament.
French Open champion given a fright in Connecticut
French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was left frustrated after she almost came unstuck against Zheng Jie in the first round of the Pilot Pen tournament.
Kuznetsova, the top seed, eventually came out on top 6-1 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 in Connecticut, however it could have been so much easier.
Having taken the first set with relative easy, Kuznetsova stormed into a 4-2 lead in the second. Zheng, though, refused to give up and levelled the match and then led 3-1 in the deciding set.
This time Kuznetsova came battling back as she won five of the next six games to seal the victory.
And although she was pleased to get some valuable game time ahead of the US Open, she was far from happy at her performance.
"I was just very frustrated I did not close it," Kuznetsova said.
"I just want to play matches and to get into match shape. Physically, I feel good, and I want just to get some matches (before the US Open)."
Rusty
Amelie Mauresmo is through to the second round after beating Ai Sugiyama 6-4 6-1 - although the French ace will have been less than impressed with her display.
Playing in only her second match since woman, Mauresmo looked rusty, with her serving letting her down.
"The game is not really in place yet," Mauresmo said.
"I needed this first set to really get into the rhythm and finally play a much better game and at a better level in the second set."
Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was made to fight all the way before beating Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-5), while Alisa Kleybanova - a semi-finalist at the Rogers Cup - was beaten 3-6 6-1 6-4 by qualifier Yanina Wickmayer.
Fellow qualifier Magdalena Rybarikova is also into the second round after a 6-4 6-4 win over Francesca Schiavone while Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elena Vesnina, Virginie Razzano and Iveta Benesova are also through.
