First Meeting: Townsend vs Kutnetsova

Day 7 of Miami Open the most anticipated match is Townsend vs. Kutnetsova. Sure, Venus Williams is always atop my tennis viewing list as is Verdasco and Nadal. But I have seen them play countless times and their matches don’t promise to be particularly entralling. However, Townsend’s leftiness, net play and serve and volley game will be refreshing against an aggressive all court player who has great variety. Having never played, the veteran is favored.

Kutnetsova joined the tour in 2000 and has accured seventeen singles and sixteen doubles titles. Her four grand slams, two singles and two doubles, helped her reach ranking of number two in singles (2007) and three in doubles (2004). Just last week she reached the final of Indian Wells, falling to Elena Vesnina 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-4. Though on the tour since 2012, Townsend has not had the success she had in Juniors; she was the top-ranked junior girl in the world . No doubt her much publicized dispute with the USTA left some scar tissue and led her to seek coaching outside the system, Zina Garrison, Kamau Murray and eventually Gary and Sheila Young, parents of Donald Young. At twenty her game hasn’t developed much since 2012. Townsend’s game lacks discipline and guidance. Her record, demeanor and play does not suggest that of a player fully invested or confident of her game. Unfortunately, her Junior’s success has not yet crystallized on the women’s tour. On the challenger tour she has had some success in doubles, but she has not yet been able to break into the top one hundred. Hopefully 2017 is a big year for the player once called a prodigy!

 

Townsend: (Q) Zhuk v. Townsend 6-7, 6-7; (Q) Barthel v Townsend 6-7(6), 3-6,  (R1) Anisimova v Townsend 6-2, 2-6, 3-6    (R2) Vinci v Townsend 3-6, 2-6

Kuznetsova:  (R1) Bye; (R2) Minella v Kutzetsova 2-6, 2-6

Coming through qualifying, Townsend is match ready as is Kuznetsova. In this match expect Kuznetsova to serve into the body or out wide and to pull Townsend back and forth to force her to hit off balance and test her fitness. Townsend will use her leftiness to serve Kuznetsova off the court and then use her volleys to keep the veteran off kilter. It would also serve Townsend

Well I lost my live stream. I’ll update this post when I can see the whole match.

SET ONE

Townsend got off to a great start and was quickly up 3-1.

SET TWO

CONCLUSIONS