Kuznetsova wins in Moscow, claims last WTA Finals berth

SINGAPORE — Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova raced to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australian Daria Gavrilova to defend her Kremlin Cup title in Moscow Saturday and secure a place at the season-ending WTA Finals. Kuznetsova was broken in her first service game to fall 2-0 behind but the 31-year-old broke back immediately to claim the first of 10 straight games as she roared to victory in 73 minutes against the world No. 37. The Russian had to win to qualify for Singapore and her victory represents heartbreak for Briton Johanna Konta, who held the final spot for the Singapore event but will now drop down to first alternate after even taking part in a glitzy draw ceremony Friday. In the semifinals, Kuznetsova defeated fourth seed Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 and Gavrilova saw off Germany’s Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-1. In the ATP section, second seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas crashed out to Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-2, falling to the Italian for the second event in succession after a first-round defeat at Shanghai last week. Fognini will next face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who ousted Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-2. In the other semifinal, veteran Frenchman Stephane Robert, 36, who overcame local favorite Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 0-6, 6-4, will face sixth-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spaniard ousted Russian teenage qualifier Alexander Bublik 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1). Kuznetsova, a twice Grand Slam champion, must now rush to Singapore for her first round robin match in the White Group against defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Monday. Czech Karolina Pliskova and Spanish French Open champion Garbine Muguruza are the other two players in the group. Action starts in the Red Group Sunday when Romania’s Simona Halep faces American Madison Keys before German world No. 1 Angelique Kerber takes on Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova. The top two players from each pool advance to the semifinals. Kuznetsova will be making her sixth appearance at the year-ending tournament and will be looking to advance from the round robin stage for a first time. Despite the disappointment of missing out on qualifying for the WTA Finals, Konta picked up the tour’s Most Improved Player Award Friday in recognition of her climb from 147th in the world in mid-2015 to number 10 in the latest rankings. The 25-year-old Briton also claimed her maiden WTA Tour title at the Stanford Classic in June. ­ — Agencies