Sharapova, Radwanska Advance to Singapore Semifinals

Maria Sharapova powered into the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Thursday, downing U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-1 to win her third straight match in Sinagpore.

Sharapova actually entered this match with a three-match losing streak to the Italian, and fell behind the early break and found herself down 2-4 in the opening set.

But Sharapova raised her game at that point, winning five of the next six games to storm back and take the opening set 7-5.

The second set was all Sharapova. The Russian won six of the seven games in the set, needing just 34 minutes to close out Pennetta and clinch her spot in the final four.

“I’ve lost the last couple of times against Flavia. I know what a tough competitor and opponent she is,” said Sharapova. “I just wanted to get a little bit of revenge before she goes out of the game. I just heard this was her last match. It’s really sad to see such a great champion go. She’s had an incredible career, and I was so happy she got the Grand Slam at the U.S. Open.

I was smiling for her.”

Sharapova played a phenomenal match. She hit 30 winners to just 19 unforced errors to move past Pennetta in straight sets.

In the semifinals, she will take on the No. 2 from the White Group, which will be determined on Friday.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska also booked her spot in the semifinals with a victory on Thursday, downing top-seed Simona Halep 7-6(5), 6-1.

Radwanska needed a lot to fall in place for her to reach the semifinals. She needed to beat Halep and have Sharapova beat Pennetta in straight sets, and both of those happened, resulting in the Pole earning a spot in the final four.

She actually fell down an early break in the opening set, but rallied to even things up, even saving a couple of set points to force the first set into a tiebreaker. And even after falling down 1-5 in the tiebreaker, she rallied to win the final six points and win the opening set.

With momentum on her side, Radwanska bulldozed through the second set in just 30 minutes, losing one game en route to the straight set victory.

“That tiebreak was something else and I just managed to make some great points at important moments,” said Radwanska. “It’s very nice to hear people say my tennis is entertaining so I hope I can keep hearing people say that over and over again.”

Radwanska finishes second in the Red Group, and will take on the number one from the White Group.