Svetlana Kuznetsova reaches Kremlin Cup final in three-set thriller
Friday 21 October 2016 18:26, UK
Svetlana Kuznetsova is one win away from knocking Johanna Konta out of the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.
The Russian needs to defend her title at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow to pass Konta and Carla Suarez Navarro for the eighth qualifying berth in next week's tournament.
Kuznetsova defeated Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 on Friday to reach the final, where she will face unseeded Daria Gavrilova, who came through her semi-final clash with Julia Goerges 7-5 6-1.
She cruised through the first set before a Svitolina fightback levelled the match and set up a deciding set.
But it was Kuznetsova who secured the vital break and battled her way into the final while Konta continued her preparations in Singapore for an event she might not even qualify for.
The WTA Finals draw took place on Friday with world No 1 Angelique Kerber placed in the Red Group alongside Simona Halep, Madison Keys and Dominika Cibulkova.
Konta or Kuznetova will fill out the White Group, which also features Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza.