Svetlana Kuznetsova has scored her first Grand Slam win over Justine Henin with a 6-4, 7-6(8) win in their third-round match at the Australian Open, and just her third win in 19 tries.
"I think I was aggressive, and I served better. Then I think I dictated most of the time," said Kuznetsova who was broken twice in the second set when serving for the match. "Then the nerves game. Then started to do a little bit of show time, you know, it's like comedy."
"It's disappointing to lose like this," said Henin. "She is just been better than me, especially in the important moments. I got some opportunities in the second set to come back, but I never really took the lead in this match."
Neither woman was physically perfect. Kuznetsova complained of foot problems while Henin is still feeling the effects of an elbow injury that had kept her out since Wimbledon. "But definitely she's not at her top level now. Neither am I," said Kuznetsova.
"I know I'm not 100%. I knew it before walking on the court. That's why I say there are no excuses. I decided to play not being 100%. It's been difficult in the last three days on my elbow and I just did everything that I could that it will be okay, but it wasn't enough," said Henin."I know in what condition I go on the court, so I don't have to take any excuse about that. Just it wasn't that easy for me today, it wasn't the best day I've had in my career so far."