Two time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova‘s build up to the French Open suffered a setback when the former World No. 2 was forced to retire in the third set of her second round match at the WTA event in Fes on Wednesday.
The Russian had won the first set 6-1 against Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu but lost the second in a tie breaker. Leading 3-2 in the decider, the Russian called it quits unable to continue.
“It was tough,” Begu said. “She was ahead by a set and 5-2 and only then I started to play. I was fighting for every ball and I think that was the key to my comeback.
“She wasn’t moving so well after the injury and I tried to move her about and I started to have some success with this. I’m happy to win, but it’s also sad for Sveta and I hope she will recover quickly.”
Top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, third seed Petra Cetkovska and fifth seed Simona Halep all won their second round matches to advance into the quarter finals. But No. 8 seed Shahar Peer was beaten by Swedish lucky loser Mathilde Johannson
GRAND PRIX DE SAR LA PRINCESSE LALLA MERYEM
Fès, Morocco
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 – Singles – Second Round
(1/WC) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) def. Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-2, 6-3
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) def. (2) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 1-6 7-6 (4), 3-2 ret. (left thigh injury)
(3) Petra Cetkovska (CZE) def. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-3, 6-2
(5) Simona Halep (ROU) def. Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) 6-2, 7-5
(Q) Kiki Bertens (NED) def. (6) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
(LL) Mathilde Johansson (FRA) def. (8) Shahar Peer (ISR) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Laura Pous-Tio (ESP) def. Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-3, 7-5
(Q) Garbiñe Muguruza Blanco (ESP) def. Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT) 6-4 ret. (right hip injury)
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