Mrs. October: Kuznetsova’s run continues with second WTA Finals win

On Monday, it was about the hair. On Wednesday, it was about the heart. That’s what Svetlana Kuznetsova said was the reason for her second round-robin victory at the WTA Finals—a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) heartstopper over Karolina Pliskova—along with her season-long resurgence that’s culminated in Singapore.

“I have not been at my best these past years,” said the 31-year-old, two-time Grand Slam champion, “but something changed this year.”

Kuznetsova may be the only player who doesn’t want the 10-month odyssey of a professional tennis season to end. She’s won two titles in 2016, including last week in Moscow, which earned her a spot in the eight-player WTA Finals. She’s since won two matches in the White Group, the first after saving a match point, and the second after squandering three of her own. Pliskova also served for today’s match at 6-5 in the third set, and led 30-0. But as Kuznetsova has demonstrated throughout October, the odds don’t apply to her.

And neither, apparently, does the circumstance. Just three points from the win at 5-4 in the third set, Kuznetsova opted for the tweener—perhaps out of desperation, given Pliskova’s fine lob. But also pay attention to the fine rally beforehand. Despite 15 combined breaks of serve, there was high-quality tennis and daring shotmaking throughout this two-hour and 17-minute contest:

A final-set tiebreaker was a fitting end to this fantastic duel. When Pliskova saved three match points, it leveled the total points won by each player to 94. There would have to be a winner on this Singapore night, but considering the effort from each player, but it’s hard to say there was a loser.

Unfortunately for Pliskova, those match points would be the final points she’d win. Kuznetsova took the next two, terminating the match—and another engrossing rally—with a backhand winner.

Kuznetsova’s late-season run reminds me of a similar streak from another uber-talented Russian, Marat Safin. In 2004, Safin won two indoor Masters tournaments, mowing through impressive fields to remind us that, even if the rankings said he wasn’t the best player in the world, he might be at that very moment.

Kuznetsova is but a few inches away from being 0-2 at the WTA Finals. But she’s found a way to win twice, beating two strong opponents and showing us that, at this very moment, she might be playing the best out of anyone.