Kuznetsova bounced from Dubai

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova became the biggest casualty on the second day of the US$2 million Dubai Tennis Championship as she was dumped from the tournament by compatriot Elena Vesnina.

However, on court play was overshadowed by the Emirates refusal to grant a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer, with WTA tour head Larry Scott saying Monday the lucrative tournament risks being struck from the calendar for violating the principle that sports and politics should not mix.

Struggling to find her rhythm throughout the second-round match, Kuznetsova lost to Vesnina 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in one hour 41 minutes.

Also making a quick exit were ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, and No. 15 Anna Chakvedatze of Russia, who both lost their first-round matches. Radwanska lost to younger sister, Urszula, 6-4, 6-3, while Chakvedatze fell in straight sets to Ayumi Morita of Japan 7-5, 6-2.

Eighth seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, the reigning French Open champion and a former No. 1, advanced to the third round with a laboured 7-5, 6-4 win in one hour 53 minutes over Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.

Vesnina, ranked 75th in the world and a qualifier here, was thrilled with her victory.

"I'm very happy with the way I played today," the 22-year-old Russian said, who reached the final in Auckland earlier this year. "She's (Kuznetsova) obviously a top-10 player, so it's even more special. I think I really troubled her today. She wasn't comfortable at all and I feel she was totally lost in the third set. She kept looking at her coach."

Kuznetsova, who lost to Elena Dementieva in the final here last year, said the speed of the court was a factor, but praised Vesnina's game.

"She really played well. The court was fast, and I just could not get the feel of the ball throughout the match. I am now off to Moscow, and I really need to work hard on my game," said the 2004 US Open champion.

Meanwhile, France's Amelie Mauresmo, winner of last week's Paris Open, withdrew from the tournament at the last minute and was been fined $7,500 by the WTA Tour.