Kuznetsova wins a dramatic three-set match against Radwanska

SINGAPORE (AP) A physically spent Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed a draining 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 win over defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in nearly three hours at the WTA Finals on Monday.

Kuznetsova, who saved a match point on Radwanska's serve near the end, eventually prevailed on a third match point to break Radwanska's serve.

''At some point I was just ready to let it go, just lay on the court and let them take me out of here,'' Kuznetsova told the cheering crowd. ''I was just trying to stay in there and hang in there.''

Kuznetsova was the last player to earn a berth into the eight-player, year-end championships when she defended her Moscow title on Saturday.

The Russian arrived in Singapore on Sunday afternoon after a grueling four weeks of chasing a spot in the WTA Finals for the first time since 2009.

Kuznetsova played three tournaments in China ahead of taking a wildcard into the Moscow tournament.

In a bizarre move while trailing 1-2 and down a break in the third set, Kuznetsova took a pair of scissors to the back of her head and cut off a portion of her braid during the changeover.

Kuznetsova immediately broke Radwanska's serve after the impromptu haircut, but after dropping her serve again in the fifth game she cried into her towel on the changeover.

Still, trailing 2-4 Kuznetsova refused to surrender and climbed back into the set.

The hair Kuznetsova sheared off remained on her chair for the remainder of the match.