Cincinnati: Ash Barty lost her chance to regain the number one world ranking after she was unexpectedly beaten in straight sets by Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters yesterday.
Top seed Barty, who would have replaced the injured Naomi Osaka as the world number one with a victory, struggled with the rhythm off her serve as she lost 6-2 6-4, losing eight consecutive games to the Russian at one point.
“I think it probably started with the serve for me,” Barty said courtside. “I mean, giving Svetlana that many looks at second serves I know I’m not going to get free points off my first serve off Sveta. She’s an incredible returner and retrieves a long way so is able to make a lot of returns.
“Just to be on the back foot of a lot of rallies from the start wasn’t ideal. I felt like we have done well to fight all week and then to put ourselves in this position, but Sveta was unreal today.”
Kuznetsova, ranked world number 153, will play the winner of the other semi-final between Americans Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin for the title today.
“It’s amazing to play again on centre court,” Kuznetsova said.
Winner of the US Open in 2004 and the French Open in 2009, the 34-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout her career but has now defeated eighth seeded Sloane Stephens, Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova and Barty in successive matches.
She entered the Cincinnati tournament as a wildcard after winning two matches in Toronto. Issues in obtaining a US visa kept her from defending her Washington DC title.
“Maybe one week or two weeks helped me back home,” she said. “Something important happened in my life and now I feel better.”
Barty won the first two games, then lost the set as Kuznetsova, handling the Australian’s slices effectively and serving well, won the next six.
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