TIANJIN, China – Svetlana Kuznetsova kept up her pursuit of a place at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global by beating Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, in the second round of the Tianjin Open.

The Russian currently sits at No.11 in the Road to Singapore and has an outside chance of qualifying the tournament for the sixth time in her career, and the first time since 2009.

The match began in frenetic fashion, with Vekic, who had won the pair’s only previous encounter, breaking Kuznetsova to love in the second game, only to surrender her advantage immediately.

Kuznetsova went on a four-game winning streak and though she was later broken when serving for the set, she recovered her advantage to take a decisive lead.

Vekic failed to hold her serve in the opening game of the second set, and though she got back on level terms, she was broken once more in the penultimate game of the match, with the 31-year-old serving out the match to secure a hard-fought win.

“I’m really happy to win the match, I think that Donna played very well,” Kuznetsova said after her victory.

“It was a very good match and I’m happy with the result. I was broken in the second game of the first set but, as I said, Donna played very well, she went for her shots and it took me time to figure out the tactics to play against her. It was a really competitive match.”

Kuznetsova, seeded second in Tianjin, will meet Naomi Osaka, who overcame Lucie Hradecka, 6-2, 7-6, in the next round.