By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Subscribing to the belief that life is in the journey rather than the destination, Svetlana Kuznetsova continues to transform the WTA Finals into a tennis thrill ride.
Two points from defeat in the deciding set, Kuznetsova crafted another stirring comeback.
The eighth-seeded Kuznetsova fought past Karolina Pliskova, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6), raising her round-robin record to 2-0 in the White Group. It's the first time in her distinguished career Kuznetsova has won two matches at the season-ending event.
Kuznetsova became the first player to clinch a spot in the Singapore semifinals when second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Garbine Muguruza, 7-6 (1), 6-3, ending the Roland Garros champion's chances of reaching the final four.
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The last woman to qualify for the season-ending event was down to her last legs when Pliskova served for the match at 6-5, 30-love, but Kuznetsova answered with the power of perseverance.
"I mean as long as I got here last moment and with all the support of the crowd and my team I felt I couldn't let myself and everyone down," Kuznetsova told Andrew Krasny afterward. "So I had to fight."
That fighting spirit.
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It was Kuznetsova's second straight spirited comeback.
The 31-year-old Russian saved match point in the final set to subdue Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-5 ,1-6, 7-5, in her WTA Finals opener.
In today's topsy-turvy final set, Kuznetsova squandered a 4-1 lead in the decider as Pliskova won five of the next six games only to falter serving for the match. The US Open finalist saved three match points in the tie break, but Kuznetsova punished a pair of winners down the line raising her three-set record to 22-8 on the season.
Kuznetsova trimmed her hair during win over Radwanska and cut out the errors at critical stages today in an emotionally-charged victory.
"(It came) from my heart," Kuznetsova said. "I haven't been at my best my past years, but something changed this year. I enjoyed the game, enjoyed the crowd and I'm really blessed to be here today."
WTA ace leader Pliskova betrayed her own cause serving just 43 percent. Surprisingly, Kuznetsova hit four more aces (6 to 2) than Pliskova.
"I just didn't find my rhythm on the serve," Pliskova said. "I took off the speed to (avoid) second serves. I felt my shoulder a bit."
Kuznetsova scattered a forehand capping a sloppy service game as Pliskova broke for 3-1. Pliskova permitted just three points on serve building a 4-1 lead.
When Pliskova failed to bend for a low volley and lifted it long, Kuznetsova broke back for 3-4.
After that brief surge, the two-time Grand Slam champion unraveled. Kuznetsova double faulted gifting back the break. Hitting off her back foot, the ninth-ranked Russian floated a forehand long ending the opening set in 34 minutes.
Despite serving just 34 percent, Pliskova controlled the set more than doubling Kuznetsova's winner output (9 to 4) in building a one-set lead.
Kuznetsova sought counsel from coach Carlos Martinez, who tried to rouse her emotion and energy.
Pliskova controlled rallies for much of the first set, but her forehand began flying early in the second. A flurry of forehand errors saw her drop serve as Kuznetsova broke for 3-1. Running around her backhand to slash a forehand down the line, Kuznetsova trotted to her seat with a 4-1 lead.
While Kuznetsova was energized, Pliskova was erratic.
On a second set point, Pliskova's drop volley attempt barely reached the net as she dropped serve for the fourth time and the second set in the process.
Spreading the court more frequently, Kuznetsova made the 6'1" Czech dig balls out of the corners. Pliskova is not nearly as effective countering wide shots as she is stepping into the court and when she pasted a flat forehand into net, Kuznetsova broke for a 2-0 lead.
Grunting with greater authority, Kuznetsova continued to test Pliskova's lateral movement backing up another the break for 4-1.
"Then I got really tight," Kuznetsova said of her 4-1 lead. "Then it was 6-5 on her serve and at 30-love she got really tight. It was like ping pong: Momentum goes on either side."
In her opening round-robin match against Garbine Muguruza, Pliskova fought back from a 2-5 deficit in the decider winning five consecutive games in a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-5 triumph. She showed resilience again today exploiting some soft serves from her opponent to break back for 3-4.
Though she denied three break points in the ensuing game, Pliskova bungled a forehand then was frozen as Kuznetsova ran around a backhand and fired a forehand return down the line to break for the seventh time in the match.
Two points from securing a semifinal spot, Kuznetsova could not control a stretch forehand volley and faced break point. Unloading a series of crosscourt backhands to corner the Russian, Pliskova plastered a backhand screamer down the line breaking back for 4-5.
Hammering away at the Russian's two-hander, Pliskova pulled the string on an exquisite drop shot-lob combination that helped her hold to level.
A disconsolate Kuznetsova lost the plot committing a series of errors to fall into triple break point. When Kuznetsova clanked a backhand down the line wide, Pliskova broke at love for 6-5.
Serving for the match at 30-love, Pliskova had reeled off nine straight points and had the finish line in sight when she blinked. Pushed back by a return, Pliskova netted a forehand to face break point then missed a backhand as the match throttled into a tie break.
Kuznetsova raced out to a 4-1 lead. When Pliskova sailed a rally forehand, she leaned on her Babolat racquet like a cane, covering her face with her left hand trailing 5-3.
Still, Pliskova kept fighting. A forehand winner saved the first match point, Kuznetsova barely missed a forehand pass on the second match point and Pliskova erased the third match point with a crunching forehand.
A defiant Kuznetsova took more risk and was rewarded. She spun a forehand down the line for a fourth match point. Applying her leg strength, Kuznetsova blasted a diagonal backhand down the opposite sideline dropping to her knees in celebration of a tremendous two hour, 17-minute victory.
"I play with my heart, I always did," Kuznetsova said. "It's not something like oh I just remember I have a heart now and before I just left it home. Something just start to work now, start to get together. Maybe I started to believe a little bit more than before. I just hang in there more."