Kuznetsova offers Vaidisova sympathy

PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova offered sympathy to her Czech opponent Nicole Vaidisova after the teenager threw away a set and a 5-4 lead to lose their French Open semi-final 5-7 7-6 6-2.

''She got little bit nervous. I know how it feels because I've been there, in her position, so many times and I've done it,'' said the 2004 US Open champion, who now plays Justine Henin-Hardenne in her first French Open final.

''I had a little bit more experience than she has. I was just fighting there. I think I am better physically than she is. I was just playing every point and suddenly she started to make more mistakes.'' Kuznetsova was struggling for most of the first two sets and the 20-year-old admitted: ''In the second set, when she was hitting all the lines, I was like, 'What have I got to do here?' ''I give all credit to her. I just kept going. I was thinking that she has less experience than I do.

''I just tried not to make any mistakes. I didn't take any risks and she made mistakes because she was rushing too much.'' NOT SHAKING Vaidisova said she would not be haunted by what had happened.

''It's not like I had match points or anything,'' said the teenager, who had not been beyond round four of a grand slam before.

''You know, even if you are 5-4 up serving, you're still so far from winning it.

''I had my chances. Of course, I did. But it happens and I'm just very excited to be playing here in the semi-finals.

''Of course I'm disappointed. I love to win and hate to lose. But there's not much I can do about it right now.'' Vaidisova, who beat world number one Amelie Mauresmo and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in her run to the last four, admitted she had suffered some nerves but did not blame them for her loss.

''Of course, at that point, you kind of figure, 'If I win this game, I'm in the finals,' she said. ''But I don't think I went crazy nervous or just started shaking or anything.

''I really didn't. You know, in a semi-final, you're in a huge stadium, everything.

''But it was more a case of me just not serving very well and her just hanging in there.

''I just have to take my experience from this and figure it out next time.'' ''I've never been as far in a grand slam, even nearly as far. I just have to keep working a little harder and hopefully next time I'll do even better.'' REUTERS PM PM2308