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.