Moscow: Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova retained her Kremlin Cup title yesterday with a straight-sets win over Australian Daria Gavrilova in the final to claim the last spot in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.
Russia’s two-time Grand Slam title winner Kuznetsova, ranked ninth, won 6-2, 6-1.
With her Kremlin Cup win veteran Kuznetsova, 31, leapfrogged Johanna Konta of Great Britain to take the last spot in next week’s WTA finals.
Gavrilova started in a lively fashion, breaking early for a 2-0 lead, but Kuznetsova broke back on three occasions to take the opening set in 43 minutes. In the second Kuznetsova underlined her supremacy, claiming the set and the match after three more breaks of serve.