Kuznetsova rewarded for refusing to give up

SINGAPORE: Svetlana Kuznetsova suffered pain and fatigue at the start of her second match of the WTA Finals on Wednesday but rather than continuing to feel sorry for herself the Russian knuckled down and gave it everything. The world No 9 trailed Karolina Pliskova by a set and a break in the White Group clash but for the second match running, she dug deep into her reserves to eke out a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) victory against her Czech opponent.

The victory ensured Kuznetsova, the last woman to both qualify and arrive in Singapore, was the first to book a place in the last four of the elite eight-woman event, just reward for the 31-year-old’s stamina and never-say-die attitude.

“In the first set I was not there. I struggled with my body, to move and to play better. I sensed I had possibilities but that was all,” said Kuznetsova, who beat defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska in a tough threesetter on Monday.

“But I was kind of feeling sorry for myself. That’s what you cannot accept being a tennis player. It doesn’t matter what situation you been through, you cannot be sorry for yourself. I’m sore. It’s not working,” she added.

“I told myself to shut it down, move on and try to do what (my coach) came to me and said. I focused on the points and I made the break. Then I saw doubts in her. Then I felt I was doing much better.

Then we were even.” VENUS, MUGURUZA TO PLAY AT MSG

NEW YORK: Major champions Juan Martin del Potro, Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza are among the tennis players tak ing part in exhibition matches at Madison Square Garden on March 6. Also participating recently suspended top-15 player Nick Kyrgios.

The 10th anniversary edition of the BNP Paribas Showdown announced Wednesday, includes the following matchups: 2009 US Open champion del Potro vs 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Ke Nishikori, seven-time Grand Slam title winner Williams vs 2016 French Open champion Muguruza, and top American man Jack Sock vs. Kyrgios, who was suspended this month by the ATP for at least three weeks for “tanking” a match and insult ing fans. Kyrgios was suspended through Jan. 15 and fined $25,000 by the ATP. His suspension can be reduced to three weeks if he accepts help from a psy chologist.