Tennis

Kuznetsova starts strongly in Charleston

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-13 08:59

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Svetlana Kuznetsova showed no ill effects from her recent injury when she easily dispatched American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-0 6-1 to advance to the round of 16 in the Family Circle Cup on Wednesday.

"I didn't play for three days, so it's pretty hard to go out there," said world number 10 Kuznetsova, seeded fourth in Charleston.

"I was still really surprised with the result but I was focused on every ball and just was, I guess, consistent," added the 20-year-old Russian after her first match since suffering a hip abductor strain in a loss to Francesca Schiavone in the Amelia Island semi-finals on Saturday.

Kuznetsova had hinted earlier in the week that she might have to withdraw, but the 2004 U.S. Open champion ran well and celebrated a winning point with a jump. She did, however, have an ice pack wrapped around her right elbow after the match.

"Hopefully it's going to get better," she said.

Eighth-seeded Nathalie Dechy, who has been struggling to recover from a December knee injury, had a tough time with 16-year-old Russian Anna Tatishvili but won 7-5 6-4 and will play 11th seed Katarina Srebotnik in the last 16.

"For the moment, at least on the fitness side, I'm getting really close to peak," Dechy said.

"And on the tennis, I just want to get better every day and I'm not thinking about that. I just want to enjoy and hit some balls," added the Frenchwoman.

Unseeded Karolina Sprem of Croatia downed Jamea Jackson of the U.S. in three sets and will play top seed and defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Qualifier Julia Vakulenko of the Ukraine, who eliminated 10th seed Jelena Jankovic on Tuesday, followed with a 6-1 6-2 victory over unseeded Antonella Serra Zanetti to set up a match against seventh seeded Dinara Safina.