By Cady Lang
A tennis player was so determined to secure victory in a tennis match that she was willing to sacrifice the hair off her own head.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, a Russian tennis player, was competing against Agnieszka Radwanska in the WTA finals match; despite winning the first set, Kuznetsova found the later sets more challenging.
One strategy that may have helped her ultimately secure the win? Lopping off a significant part of her ponytail during the match, while on the tennis court, sans mirror — which really gives a nuanced meaning to going to great lengths to achieve your goals.
Watch Kuznetsova cut her own hair mid-game, below.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness
Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com