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United State's Serena
Williams celebrates her victory over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova congratulates at the
finals of the China Open in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept 26, 2004.
(AP) |
Serena Williams won the China Open despite not playing sharp tennis
Sunday, facing a match point in the second set and going on to beat U.S.
Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
"I just never gave up. I really didn't want to lose today," the
top-seeded Williams said. "I haven't won a title since March, which really
isn't like me."
Williams ended Kuznetsova's 14-match winning streak . The second-seeded
Russian won her previous two events, the U.S. Open and in Bali last week.
"I think next time I'm going to be more fit playing against Serena,"
Kuznetsova said. "In the third set, I couldn't serve well because I
couldn't push myself, I couldn't push with my legs on my serve."
Williams saved a match point while down 4-5 in the second set. She went
on to win the next three games to take the second set. She raced ahead 4-0
in the third before Kuznetsova could reply.
"I just played crazy," Williams said. "It's kind of encouraging that I
was able to win when I wasn't playing my best today."
Kuznetsova broke Williams twice late in the third set. But Williams
needed just one match point, serving big while up 5-4, and Kuznetsova's
shot hit the net on the final point.
Both players appeared rattled by the boisterous crowd, several times
playing after a point was complete because they couldn't hear the call.
Williams is working her way back up the WTA rankings after missing part
of this year because of injury. She will remain at No. 10 despite the
victory while Kuznetsova will stay at No. 5.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-09-27 09:19