In the WTA Finals, the last to qualify for the season ending event was former world number one Svetlana Kuznetsova who won the Kremlin Cup to earn her place. And less than 48 hours later, she was taking on the defending champion, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the White Group opener.
Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova serves during the WTA Finals match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in Singapore Indoor Stadium, Oct. 24, 2016. Kuznetsova won 2-1. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
Kuznetsova at the top of your screen, was perhaps feeling the effects of her 11 hour flight from Moscow to trail 4-1 in the first set, but that sharp backhand begins a comeback that ends with her taking the frame 7-5.
Radwanska gets out to another good start in the second and now has break point. Wicked angle on this volley and she later wins the set 6-1.
It's 2-2 in the decider but Radwanska has double break point. The Pole whips a great return that sets up the smash winner.
But once again Kuznetsova fought back and the Russian now has a 6-5 lead with Radwanska serving to stay in the match. Kuznetsova is going to send a looping backhand to the corner and then follow it up with an inside out forehand that brings up match point.
This is now the Russian's third attempt to close it out, and Radwanska does it for her by hitting the net. The two-time grand slam champ clearly pleased with that win and it's the 21st time the 31 year old has prevailed in three sets this season, more than any other player on the WTA Tour. Now she'll try to get out of the Group Stage for the first time in seven tries at the Tour Finals.
PLISKOVA DEFEATS MUGURUZA 6-2, 6-7, 7-5
Now we've got Karolina Pliskova coming out to face Garbine Muguruza in the other White Group match. And Pliskova runs rough shod over the Spaniard in the first, going on to take the set 6-2.
Muguruza gets in the swing of things in the second to build a 5-3 lead, but Pliskova now has a break point to get back in it and she gets the break with this running forehand.
The set goes to a tiebreaker and the French Open champion Muguruza wins it when the Czech goes long.
And the Spaniard now has a chance to start the decider with a break. Pliskova comes to the net, but Mugurazu has the answer with a perfect forehand lob.
Match point now for Muguruza at 5-2 and she's going to load up on a backhand, but then can't control the volley and that allows Pliskova back in it.
The Czech went on to win four straight games to bring up her own match point and she wins it when Muguruza goes long, completing an unlikely comeback to win a three-set thriller in her debut at the WTA Finals.
