Svetlana Kuznetsova cuts own hair on way to win at WTA finals

To get to the top, professional tennis players know they have to make tough sacrifices. But at the WTA Finals on Monday, Russia´s Svetlana Kuznetsova took that concept to a new level, chopping off her hair in order to beat Agnieszka Radwanska.

Speaking at a post-match press conference in Singapore, Kuznetsova said her thick hair, which was put into a long braid, had been hitting her eye whenever she moved to hit a forehand.

"I thought, ´Okay, what´s more important now, my hair which I can let grow or the match?´," she said, adding that she decided to "go for it". Shortly after the third set started, Kuznetsova, who was emotional at moments, asked the umpire for "large scissors" during a break and started hacking at her braid.

"I was like just cutting, I was like, I cannot cut it because it´s so thick and wet... I don´t even now how much I cut there," said Kuznetsova, who has yet to examine her handiwork. Two games after the haircut, Kuznetsova was also seen sobbing into her towel during a side change.

Asked about it, she said: "I tried to behave and act like I´m professional athlete, professional player. I mean, sometimes it´s not easy, you know."