Kuznetsova needs tiebreaker to advance, Davydenko cruises at Pilot Pen

Belgian teen extends Kuznetsova to 3 sets

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova needed a third-set tiebreaker to advance to the Pilot Pen quarterfinals with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (2) win Wednesday over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

The French Open champion seemed to be cruising after taking 5-4 lead in the second with a match point on Wickmayer’s serve.

But the 19-year-old rallied, then broke Kuznetsova in the seventh game of the third set, and was serving for the match. Kuznetsova came up with two big returns to break back, then dominated the tiebreaker.

“I knew at 5-all that if I wanted to win the match, I would have to play perfect,” Wickmayer said. “And I almost played perfectly, but I guess in the tiebreaker she was just too good for me.”

Kuznetsova acknowledged that she let her concentration lag at times, and said she sometimes needs to have her back against the wall before she plays her best tennis.

“I still have it, so I appreciate that I have it, but I have to work on closing out things when I have the chance to,” she said.

Kuznetsova will play her friend and sometimes doubles partner Amelie Mauresmo in the quarterfinals.

Virginia Razzano also advanced, when Agnieszka Radwanska retired before the third set of their match with a hand injury. Radwanska said she will be able to play in the U.S. Open.

In the men’s draw, top-seed Nikolay Davydenko advanced in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3 over Fabrice Santoro of France.

Later, American Sam Querrey was scheduled to play for what could be an extra $1 million. A victory over Bjorn Phau would give Querrey enough points to secure the U.S. Open Series championship, and a bonus of between $15,000 and $1 million, to be determined by his finish in next week’s U.S. Open.

If Querrey loses, the championship goes to Andy Murray, who is not playing in New Haven.