Kuznetsova trips Zheng

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut – Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova needed three sets Monday to overcome China’s Zheng Jie, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4, in the first round of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament, the final warmup before the US Open.

The French Open champion, who received a wild-card entry into this tournament last week, won the first set easily and appeared to be cruising in the second, up 4-2 before Zheng rallied.

Using a strong backhand, Zheng won the next three games, and eventually took the set in a 7-5 tiebreaker.

“I was just very frustrated I did not close it,” Kuznetsova said.

Zheng broke Kuznetsova in the third game of the final set and went up 3-1, before the Russian staged a comeback of her own. She won the next three games, and took the match on Zheng’s serve when a backhand went long.

“I just want to play matches and to get into match shape,” Kuznetsova said. “Physically, I feel good, and I want just to get some matches (before the Open).”

Amelie Mauresmo overcame some sloppy serving to beat Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-4, 6-1 in her first-round match.              (AP)