WTA Finals Preview, Day 4: Pliskova vs. Sveta, Aga vs. Muguruza

The Czech and the Russian made great escapes in their first matches in Singapore. Kuznetsova saved a match point on her way to beating Agnieszka Radwanska, while Pliskova came back from 2-5 down in the third set to catch Garbiñe Muguruza at the finish line. Pliskova and Kuznetsova have met just once, in Cincy this summer, and Pliskova won in three sets on her way to the championship there. This time, it’s Kuznetsova who has the momentum; she’s coming off a title in Moscow over the weekend. When Sveta digs in, she typically digs in deep, and digs in for a while, and it’s tempting to believe that while the 31-year-old will be much wearier than her 24-year-old opponent, she’ll find a way to win anyway. But I can’t quite make myself believe it.

Winner: Pliskova

How does Muguruza put her late-match collapse against Pliskova—she let a 5-2 lead in the third set slip away—behind her? How does Radwanska let her own late collapse to Kuznetsova—she served for it and held a match point—behind her? They probably can’t. But somebody has to win, and there may still be a trip to the semis in Singapore waiting for the one who does. Muguruza owns a 4-3 record against Radwanska, but Aga beat her at this event last year. More important, Radwanska is less likely to suffer another collapse than her much more erratic opponent.

Winner: Radwanska