The former world number two, Svetlana Kuznetsova, a three-time quarterfinalist at the All England Club, arrived on Court 18 for her debut this year having lost in the first round of the event the last two years. Ahead of her, Laura Siegemund, a 27-year-old journeywoman whose best ranking was achieved last week at 127. It was the German’s debut at the Wimbledon main draw.
The 33 minute first set was opened with a love hold from Siegemund, but that ended up being the only game won on her serve in the frame. As Kuznetsova held for 1/1 shortly after, the German rebounded from a 15-40 deficit, only to lose the game anyway. The next game, in which the Russian consolidated the break, started a streak of breaks of service in the first set. The world 128 was broken again, but she broke right back. The German held game points in the seventh set, but Kuzentsova ended up winning the game. That trend carried on until the tenth game. With Siegemund serving with her back against the wall down 3/5, she gifted away the set on a double-fault.
The second set was no more consistent. After a pair of holds to start the affair, a couple of backhand winners by the German and two unforced errors from Kuznetsova’s racket combined to hand the German the first break. However, Siegemund was broken right after, despite going up 40-15 in the game. The fifth and sixth games went the loser’s way, as she got up 4/2 on the set with Kuznetsova serving. The 30-year-old Russian claimed then the next sets, finishing the match on Siegemund’s game, breaking for the win from 15, putting final numbers to her 6/3, 6/4 win.
In the second round, Svetlana Kuznetsova faces Czech Republic’s Kristyna Pliskova, currently ranked No. 134, who beat Smitkova in an all-Czech affair in round one. This is going to be the first meeting between the two.