NOTEBOOK: KUZNETSOVA EXTENDS FAMILY'S OLYMPIC TIES.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

CARLSBAD - Svetlana Kuznetsova, a member of Russia's Olympic team, doesn't have to imagine what it must feel like to have a gold medal around her neck.

Kuznetsova, 18, would wear her mother's cycling medals to tennis practice when she was a child in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Her mom, Galina, held more than 20 world records and won six world championships. Her father, Alexandr, is the coach of Russia's most successful cycling team. Her brother, Nikolai, was a silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

``From seven to eight I was staying with the guys, the cyclists,'' Kuznetsova said. ``To buy something for me, I just would get on the bike and get down to the store.''

Kuznetsova credited nature and nurture for her powerful legs, which give her lift on her serve and power on groundstrokes. The No. 7 seed knocked off former world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 6-2 in a second-round match early Wednesday at the Acura Classic.

Svetlana began playing tennis with her mom, who started taking lessons after she retired from cycling. Her next project is to get faster.

--Trading spaces: It turns out all Amelie Mauresmo had to do was show up at the Acura Classic.

The No. 3 player in the world lost her first match - 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to Alicia Molik in the second round - but still is projected to pass No. 2 Kim Clijsters in the WTA rankings.

If Mauresmo keeps climbing - she has to win a few matches to do it - she will take the No. 1 ranking without having won a Grand Slam event, as Clijsters did a year ago.

``Whatever the way it comes I'll take it,'' Mauresmo said. ``Of course, I just want it to happen because I win tournaments. Because I played well.''

If Lindsay Davenport lasts deep into the week, she likely will surpass Mauresmo and Clijsters, who is out with a wrist injury.

--Something about Mary: Mary Pierce, the French woman who has endured a litany of injuries and a messy public split from her father, is an old favorite in Carlsbad, eliciting cheers even in defeat.

``I still feel that I'm not exactly where I need to be to be giving myself the chance to beat the top girls and competing against them,'' Pierce said.