Kuznetsova kicked off a trend of last-minute entrants to the season-ending championships and carried that momentum through a dramatic finale.

It's hard to believe that some of today's top pros once had to qualify—and often together.

As the superstar moves into her 40s, we continue a four-part countdown of her most significant Grand Slam victories.

Three-time Roland Garros winner Serena Williams opens against a former Top 25 player, while 2020 Roland Garros finalist Sofia Kenin takes on a former French Open champion.

On Wednesday, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alizé Cornet will clash at the Miami Open, where they have made a combined 28 appearances. Tommy Paul and Marcos Giron will also meet in an all-American showdown.

Former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova took the court after countrywomen Anastasia Gasanova and Vera Zvonareva played three-hour thrillers, making quicker work of Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu to reach her first WTA quarterfinal in 12 months.

Top seeds Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova were each taken to three sets in their Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships openers, but while Pliskova triumphed over Anastasija Sevastova, Svitolina bowed out to an in-form Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Catch up with some of the highlights as main-draw action got underway at the Qatar Total Open and the Open 6ème Sens — Métropole de Lyon, including impressive wins from Victoria Azarenka, Jelena Ostapenko, and Clara Tauson.