Kuznetsova 2-0 at WTA Finals after beating Pliskova

SINGAPORE (AP) Svetlana Kuznetsova closed in on a spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Wednesday, beating Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Both players served for the match in the third set, but Kuznetsova finally finished it off on her fourth match point.

''I felt the support of the crowd and I couldn't let anyone down,'' said Kuznetsova, who fell to the court after improving to 2-0 in the White Group. ''So I had to fight.''

Kuznetsova will qualify for the semifinals if Agnieszka Radwanska defeats Garbine Muguruza in the second match. Plishkova is 1-1.

Kuznetsova, who has the most three-set match wins of the year with 22, led 4-1 lead in the final set and served for the match at 5-3. But she never held a match point until the tiebreaker.

Pliskova had an opportunity to serve out the match at 6-5.

Kuznetsova, the last player to qualify for the season-ending tournament, returned to the top 10 this year for the first time since she last played at the WTA Finals in 2009.

''I've not been at my best my past years,'' Kuznetsova said. ''Something changed this year and I'm just enjoying my game.''

On Monday, Kuznetsova won her opening match against Radwanska after cutting her own hair during a changeover because she said it was bothering her while she played.