Cibulkova, a debutant at the tournament for the top eight available female players in the world rankings, endured a difficult start to her tie against Kuznetsova at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. 

The in-form Russian, winner of the Kremlin Cup earlier this month, broke Cibulkova in two of her first three service games to lead 4-1.

After going on to lose the opening set 6-1, Cibulkova was much improved in the second set and earned a break against Kuznetsova to appear on course to level the match.

It was the first of four consecutive breaks of serve, however, as Cibulkova held her nerve in the tie-break to win the set 7-6.

Her resolve was again tested when she fell 4-2 behind in the decider, but the Slovakian then earned four straight games to earn a dramatic 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 win.

Cibulkova will begin as the underdog in the final, when she she is due to meet world number one Kerber.

The German, the Australian Open and US Open winner, eased past the tournament’s defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

A superb display saw Kerber lose just three games as she emerged as a 6-2, 6-1 winner.

Kerber beat Cibulkova 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 in her opening match of the tournament and will hope for a similar result tomorrow to clinch victory in the season ending event.