Tennis player Kuznetsova chops off hair during match

SINGAPORE: 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."

The Russian edged into the competition late Saturday and sent Britain´s Johanna Konta packing. She eventually beat defending champion Radwanska 7-5 1-6 7-5.

The oldest player in the tournament, Kuznetsova has battled exhaustion after a long season, and jetted straight to Singapore after lifting the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Last November, Andy Murray also gave his fringe a trim courtside at the ATP World Tour finals, saying it was getting into his eyes.