The Russian was all business while winning back-to-back titles in Asia.
Svetlana Kuznetsova has stuck strictly to her tennis in the post-US Open period, and her dedication has paid off with a berth in the WTA year-end championships in Madrid.
On Monday, the WTA announced the 21-year-old Russian had become the fourth player to qualify for the November event, joining Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova as players who have already secured their spots.
Not for Kuzy the wet 'n' wild temptations of Bali's watersports, the joys of lounging on a tropical beach or the chance to sip a fruit drink complete with a parasol in the glass.
Instead, the 2004 U.S. Open champion concentrated on the competitive grind, beating the draining autumn heat to emerge with back-to-back titles from her September trip to the East.
Kuznetsova earned her second and third titles of the season at Bali and Beijing, winning both at the expense of French opponents. Marion Bartoli fell 7-5, 6-2 at the Wismilak International in Bali while world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo couldn't recover after a rain interruption, losing 6-4, 6-0 at the China Open in Beijing.
"This is no holiday for me, I'm here to work," said Kuznetsova, who accounted for defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the semi-finals.
In contrast, Davenport, staying away from the Grand Hyatt tournament site at an even fancier establishment, made her week a relaxing one. "I like playing night matches," the three-time Grand Slam winner. "I just lay by the pool all day, then come over and play.
"It's too hot here to warm up too much. I like sleeping in and the whole Bali lifestyle."
After winning the U.S. Open two years ago, Kuznetsova struggled with the pressure of being a Grand Slam champion and ended last year at No. 18. Now, with her ranking back to a career-best fourth, Kuznetsova has her sights set on doing well at Madrid. With her training base still at the Sanchez Academy in Spain, the country is like a second home.
“It’s great to have the event in Spain,” Kuznetsova said in Stuttgart this week. “At home in Russia there would be too much pressure, but Spain is fine.”
Mauresmo, the year-end defending champion, praised Kuznetsova. "She's in the Top 5, she's a great player with a Grand Slam title," said the holder of majors this season at Melbourne and Wimbledon. "I think she can win any tournament."