Kuznetsova steps onto grass as WTA Eastbourne top seed

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

EASTBOURNE, England (AFP) — Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, will make her only pre-Wimbledon grass appearance from Monday as top seed at the Eastbourne Championships.

The Russian, who also played semi-finals at Devonshire Park in 2005 and 2006, heads the field after the pullout of French Open champion Ana Ivanovic due to mental and physical exhaustion.

While the new number one from Serbia is resting prior to the June 23 start of the grass-court Grand Slam at the All England club, Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli will gamble on a wrist injury as she plays as second seed.

The Frenchwoman has been troubled by the problem for several weeks and said she had considered skipping Roland Garros.

But instead of resting, Bartoli, a losing 2007...