Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates her win against Simona Halep of Romania in the round-robin stage of the Women's Tennis Association Finals ©Getty Images

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova defeated Romania’s Simona Halep in straight sets to close in on a semi-final place at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Singapore.

The world number four held off a comeback from top seed Halep to triumph 6-4, 6-4 and move to the summit of the Red Group with two wins out of two. 

Completing only her second full match since a leg injury sidelined her after losing to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Sharapova led 6-4, 5-1 but failed to grasp her two initial opportunities to serve out the match.

Halep rallied to win three consecutive games and give herself a chance to level on serve, but Sharapova managed to regain her composure and broke in the 10th game to seal victory. 

"I think I'm quite pleased to be able to beat the number two player in the world," Sharapova said.

"I think it was, again, a very physical match.

"I found myself on the defence many times and was able to win a lot of the long points."

Italy's Flavia Pennetta kept herself in the hunt for a semi-final place with a straight-sets win against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland
Italy's Flavia Pennetta kept herself in the hunt for a semi-final place at the WTA Finals with a straight-sets win against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland ©Getty Images

The Russian’s next opponent in the final round of Red Group matches on Thursday (October 29) is US Open champion Flavia Pennetta, who earlier overcame Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 7-6, 6-4.

The 33-year-old Italian fought back from 5-3 down in the first set to prevent a second defeat of the week and early elimination from what is her final tournament before retiring.

"Of course it was important today to win this match, because like this I still have a little bit of chance, no?" said Pennetta.

Radwanska, who has lost her opening two matches, said: "Definitely the first set I should have won.

"The concentration was slipping away sometimes and I wasn't focused enough."

Halep is due to face Radwanska in Thursday’s other Red Group match with all four players still able to secure one of the two semi-final spots.



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