PARIS, France - She maintains incredible focus and fierce determination when on the court, but once the match is over Svetlana Kuznetsova is all smiles. And there's no greater cause for celebration in the world of tennis than after winning one of its greatest prizes.
Saturday, June 6, 2009 was one such day for the Russian, who celebrated her 24th birthday two days later. After beating fellow Russian, world No.1 Dinara Safina, to clinch the 2009 Roland Garros women's singles title (the trophy presented by German legend Steffi Graf) Kuznetsova had a whirlwind of activities, including several hours of media commitments, a photo shoot in front of the Eiffel Tower and responding to dozens of text messages, Facebook messages and voice mail messages from friends around the world. (Check out photos from Svetlana's post-final activities)
"This is finally my trophy," said Kuznetsova in her post-final press conference. "I'm really happy, and nobody one can take it from me. I have won Roland Garros and I have won the US Open. This is it."
One of the most popular women amongst the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's stars, Kuznetsova had waited nearly five years to win her second Grand Slam singles title. Her 2004 US Open victory as a 19-year-old was followed by a major slump in 2005, falling from No.5 to No.18 in a 12-month period.
While she reached two more Grand Slam finals - 2006 Roland Garros and 2007 US Open - and achieved a career-best No.2 ranking, her next major victory continued to prove elusive. Heartbreaking losses to the eventual champions in Paris - to Anastasia Myskina in 2004 and Justine Henin in 2005, both times after holding match point - appeared to hold back Kuznetsova from claiming more titles.
"It's been very tough times for me," confided Kuznetsova after the final, who attributes her resurgence to her move from Spain - where she lived and trained for several years - back to her native Russia late last year. "I lost in Rome and I left to Moscow and my coach was not happy about it. I say, 'I don't want to train. I don't want to think about it; I don't want to go back to Spain.' I said a few times I want to quit playing tennis. I said it. I never felt it."
But a chance meeting at the Beijing Olympics with men's tennis superstar Roger Federer - who's previously declared an admiration for the Russian's game - helped Kuznetsova to make the decision to move back to Russia.
"I had a talk with him for 10 minutes, and I had never spoken to him before. I was talking to him about the problems I had. He said, 'Look, you can only depend on yourself. You can control it. If you can concentrate and live in Moscow, do this. If you cannot, only you can judge.'
"I came back to Moscow and I worked hard, and I had my time to do everything. I had my passion, I have my friends, I am in my home country. I'm very patriotic. I love being there."
Beating Serena Williams in the quarterfinals in Paris this year - after losing to the American in a similarly tight match at the Australian Open in January - was a mental breakthrough. Her subsequent victories over Samantha Stosur and Safina were finally the reward for both her hard work and patience.
"I'm just looking forward for new battles. I have great pleasure and honor to win this trophy, and especially Steffi to give it to me today.
"I can't ask for more. You know, God gave me this opportunity to do well, and I'm doing my best. I cannot wish for more."
