Svetlana Kuznetsova
© AFP/File Jack Guez

EASTBOURNE, England (AFP) - The Russian recovered from losing the opening set amid a flurry of errors to oust Japan's Ai Sugiyama 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Her 90-minute victory completed a hat-trick for one of the world's strongest tennis nations after fifth seed Anastasia Myskina and Vera Dushevina won their first round matches.

The country then wrapped up a fourth win as Vera Zvonareva followed up her weekend title in Birmingham with victory over compatriot Anna Chakvetadze 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (2/7), 6-2 after two and a half hours.

Kuznetsova, who won the 2004 US Open and claimed the Miami Masters trophy this season, lost the opening set badly before a quick change in tactics turned the game on its head.

"It was actually nothing special, but I had to start playing another game. After that it got better out there," said the 21-year-old fourth seed.

"It was so windy in the first two games. I got broken and she got confident. In the second set I hit a little bit stronger."

Kuznetsova, 4-1 over Sugiyama, lost serve three times in the first set but rallied after making minor adjustments to square the match.

Svetlana Kuznetsova
© AFP/File Jack Guez

"I was still playing my clay game," said a player now 7-1 at Eastbourne. "I was having a tough time feeling the ball.

"In the second I hit stronger, just moved my arm faster and got the balls back. It was nothing special, but you have to play a different game on grass.

"At the end of the day, it was a good match."

Kuznetsova said that Sugiyama, the top Japanese player on tour, has the game to give her trouble on grass. "She's not number one in the world, but she's still an opponent to respect."

Myskina, a former French Open champion, was untroubled by Slovak qualifier Jarmila Gajdosova 6-3, 6-0 while Dushevina, the 2005 losing finalist here to Kim Clijsters, defeated Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-1, 6-3.

The departure of the final British player in the field meant that a sponsor did not have to shell out 30,000 euros (37,700 dollars) on a new car promised to any local who reached the quarter-finals.

But with Keothavong ranked 143 and Katie O'Brien, who lost Monday, standing 232, the theoretical payout was never realistically in danger.

The only other seed on court, German number seven Anna-Lena Groenefeld beat Marion Bartoli 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, also in round one.

The grass event is highlighted by the top three players in the world, with Amelie Mauresmo plus Belgians Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne opening in the second round on Wednesday.

©AFP