Wozniacki close to semis after Radwanska victory
Agencies
SINGAPORE, October 23
Maria Sharapova's hopes of becoming the year-end world number one went up in smoke on Tuesday when she crashed in straight sets to Petra Kvitova at the WTA Finals in Singapore. The Russian superstar needed a win to have any chance of overtaking top-ranked Serena Williams but she blew up in spectacular fashion as Kvitova won 6-3, 6-2 in 75 minutes.
It was the second upset in quick succession at the season finale after Simona Halep stunned Williams 6-0, 6-2 on Wednesday, the 18-time Grand Slam-winner's worst defeat in 16 years.
Kvitova's first win over Sharapova since 2011 also left the Russian's bid for a second year-end title -- a decade after the first -- hanging by a thread after her opening defeat to Caroline Wozniacki.
Sharapova won the first two games against Kvitova but then went to pieces as the Wimbledon champion won the next five straight and took the first set 6-3.
Another run of five games put Kvitova on the verge of victory before Sharapova finally earned a break of her own, and then saved two match points as she clung on in a 10-minute hold of serve at 5-1 down.
However, her resistance was broken when on the third match point, Kvitova blasted a magical looping forehand which landed on the baseline and beyond the crestfallen Russian.
Earlier, Wozniacki beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-5, 6-3 to take top position in the White Group round robin as the resurgent Dane neared a spot in the semifinals.
Showing no signs of fatigue after her exhausting three-set win over Maria Sharapova two days earlier, Wozniacki rebounded from a slow start to overrun Radwanska with an ominous display.
Wozniacki was down an early service break in the opening set but quickly got back on terms and proved too strong for Radwanska, running the Pole ragged on Singapore's purple hardcourts.
"I just kept fighting for every point. There was some ridiculous shot making there at times," said Wozniacki. "I just had to keep going and keep trying to stay close to the baseline really.
"I've been pleased with the way I've been running a lot of balls down, been serving well, just taking advantage of the important points."
With one group match still to go against Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, Wozniacki is almost certain to reach the semi-finals for just the second time in the elite season-ending championship.
Radwanska also has a chance of advancing after she won her opening match against Kvitova. She faces Sharapova in her last match.
"It was really tight match (against Wozniacki), especially the first set," Radwanska said. "I really had some chances in the first set for 4-1, and then the end of the set as well. Until 3-all in the second set, it was pretty much game by game. But then I think I just didn't serve good enough that match."
