Tennis-Wimbledon-Birthday girl Kuznetsova outclassed by Lisicki

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova did not get the birthday present she hoped for on Saturday when she was knocked out of Wimbledon in straight sets by an unseeded German teenager.

The Russian, who beat world number one Dinara Safina earlier this month to win the title at Roland Garros, did not seem the same player as she was outclassed 6-2 7-5 in one hour and 26 minutes by Sabine Lisicki.

"I wasn't feeling comfortable at all," Kuznetsova, who has just turned 24, told reporters. "I was not moving much and I was not doing my thing.

"With her game you cannot adjust," she added. "You cannot have long rallies so you've got to be quick and at maximum level all the time and I didn't do that today. That is why I lost."

The fifth seed started well, breaking Lisicki's serve with a seamless backhand volley to take the lead straight away, but failed to get into her stride and soon made a string of errors to go 4-1 down to the world number 41.

DOUBLE FAULT

On the verge of being broken for a third time, and looking increasingly annoyed with herself, the birthday girl mustered some well-placed shots to hold serve. But a double fault two games later handed the 19-year-old the first set.

As the sky over Court One became increasingly grey so did the fifth seed's mood and, after netting the ball to lose the opening game of set two, she threw her racket to the floor.

The powerful Lisicki, who has recorded the second fastest serve this week, used the speed to her advantage, snatching several aces to go 5-2 ahead.

Cheered on by singer Grace Jones, three-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Kuznetsova saved four match points, but her heart did not seem in it and she eventually crumpled, hitting the ball wide to give her opponent an unexpected victory.

"It is a huge win for me," said Lisicki, who went out in the first round on her Wimbledon debut last year. "I can't believe I'm in the fourth round."

"I just kept fighting," she added. "I missed some opportunities at 5-4, but I managed to serve well... and just fought to finish up the match."

Kuznetsova, trying to become the first player since 2002 to win back-to-back grand slams in a calender year, also lost in the third round of the doubles later on Saturdday.

"Some days it doesn't go your way," the Russian said. "It was not a good day."

(Editing by Ken Ferris

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