Kuznetsova, Pliskova Win Thrillers in Singapore

October 24, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Svetlana Kuznetsova and Karolina Pliskova won their respective round-robin matches on Monday, wrapping up the second day of play at the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Kuznetsova scored a huge win over last year’s champion Agnieszka Radwanska, fighting back from a match point down to upend the Pole 7-5, 1-6, 7-5.

The Russian, who only qualified for the finals thanks to her victory at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, fell behind early as Radwanska raced out to a 4-1 lead. But she fought all the way back, winning six of the next seven games to steal the opening set 7-5.

Radwanska responded in the second, dominating the second set, and even took a break advantage to open up the third set. But in the ensuing changeover, Kuznetsova gave us one of the most interesting moments on the tour in recent memory, cutting off her ponytail in apparent rage at herself.

Kuznetsova would get the break back, but still found herself facing a match point at 4-5 down. A backhand error from Radwanska allowed Kuznetsova to hang around and break back for 5-5. After a calm hold, she would break one more time, securing the victory after another error into the net from Radwanska.

“Sometimes it’s not easy, and sometimes you’re pulling through,” said Kuznetsova of her wild week. “I put aside that I am tried, put aside the emotions, the jet lag—I didn’t want to think about it.”

In Monday’s other round-robin match, U.S. Open finalist Pliskova pulled out a 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5 victory over French Open champion Garbine Muguruza.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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