USA’s Amanda Anisimova has withdrawn from her third round match against Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova at the WTA Doha on Wednesday, February 26. Kuznetsova will now take on Belinda Bencic in her quarterfinal after the Swiss player defeated Yulia Putintseva in straight sets to advance to the final eight.
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Amanda Anisimova v Svetlana Kuznetsova Head to Head
The pair have never played each other before. This will be the first match between the 18-year-old American, and the Russian, sixteen years older than her.
Anisimova, Talented American Teenager Finding Her Feet
Anisimova is the second-youngest player ranked in the WTA top 100, and, as a junior, won the US Open and reached the final at Roland Garros.
Last April she won her first WTA title at the Copa Colsanitas, and went on to reach the semi-final of the French Open, the youngest player ever to do so, before losing to the eventual winner, Ashleigh Barty.
Her year began well, as she reached the semi-finals in Auckland, before suffering defeat at the hands of Serena Williams. However, at the Australian Open, where she was seeded 21, she was beaten in the first round by Zarina Dyas of Kazakhstan. She then suffered another first round defeat in Dubai, going out to the Czech player Barbora Strycova.
However, she has enjoyed two consecutive straight set victories in Doha. First she beat Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, who won the title in Shenzen, and then the out-of-form number five seed, Elina Svitolina.
Kuznetsova’s First Third Round Appearance of the Year
Now ranked 49 in the world, Kuznetsova has not won a WTA title for more than two years, although she was a beaten finalist in Cincinnati last year.
The heyday of the 34 year old came more than a decade ago, when she won the US Open in 2004, and the French Open five years later. She also won the doubles title at the Australian Open twice.
She has not started 2020 well – this is the first time she has made the third round of a tournament. She was beaten in the first round in Hobart by Magda Linette of Poland, and lost in the second round of the Australian Open to the Italian Camila Giorgi.
Kuznetsova did beat Jennifer Brady in the first round in St. Petersburg, but was then beaten by Belinda Bencic.
However, she has had two straight set wins in Qatar so far, defeating first Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey, and then Iga Swiatek of Poland.
Amanda Anisimova v Svetlana Kuznetsova Predictions & Tips
This is a fascinating match-up between two players at different ends of their careers – Anisimova’s is still in its infancy, whereas Kuznetsova is heading towards the veteran stage. The Russian has all the experience, but the youth and energy of Anisimova should give her the edge.
Tip: Anisimova to win in straight sets: 6/4 (Click here to get these odds with Unibet)
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