By DPA
New York : The American summer sport of baseball holds little appeal for former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. But the Russian still loves wearing a New York Yankees team cap.
“I really respect the game,” said the 2004 winner after reaching the second round Tuesday. “I know it’s very big in the US and Canada and in Europe it’s not that big. I don’t follow it.
“But I am in love with hats. I have many hats of different design, and like this one and I love New York. For me, NY is New York.”
Kuznetsova disagrees with some of the other European players who find chaotic New York the ground zero of stress during the Grand Slam fortnight.
“It’s just the best, I love to be here,” she confessed. “I would love to do some photo shoot or something here just on the streets because I think it’s so special. It’s so crazy.”
Kuznetsova said she was once invited to watch a baseball game, but declined when she heard it might take five or six hours to complete.
“I wish I could follow the Yankees. I’ve been once to (Toronto) Blue Jays-Yankees game here in 2005.
“I know the rules of baseball more or less: I know they hit like this, and if you hit it far you got to run. But then another one catches. I know more or less, but I don’t know how to count (keep score).”