Kvitova beats Sharapova to set up WTA Finals clash with Radwańska

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic will play Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the final ©Getty Images

Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic secured her place in the final of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals event as she beat Russian world number three Maria Sharapova in straight sets in Singapore today.

Kvitova, a semi-finalist despite suffering defeat to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in her final group match yesterday, set up a meeting with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwańska with a 6-3, 7-6 success.

Radwanska had earlier overcame the challenge of Muguruza thanks to a 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 victory.

“I had two losses in my group, and I couldn't really believe I would play the semi-finals,” Kvitova said.

“I knew Maria would be strong today - she played so well in the round robin group, so I expected a really tough match.

“But I knew I had the game to beat her, and that I really had to keep trying today.”

The Czech, winner of the event in 2011, claimed victory in only one of her round-robin matches and come into the eagerly-anticipated clash with the five-times Grand Slam champion, who had a 100 percent record at the group phase, as the underdog.

Kvitova, however, stormed to the first set thanks to reeling off four games in a row but she found herself struggling in the second as Sharapova came roaring back by taking a 5-1 lead.

The Russian squandered set point at 5-3 though and Kvitova was able to turn the tables to send the second set into a tie-break, coming from 2-0 down to secure a surprise win.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwańska claimed a thrilling win over Garbine Muguruza to reach the final ©Getty Images

Radwanska was made to work much harder for her spot in the final as she was pushed all the way by Muguruza in a three-set thriller.

The Pole, ranked number six in the world, dropped the opening set despite racing into a 3-0 lead in the tie-break as Muguruza, widely-considered as a future Grand Slam champion, fought back to edge in front.

Radwanska recovered, however, and levelled proceedings with a powerful display in the second set, claiming it 6-3 to send the semi-final into a tense decider.

She then looked to have the match all-but sewn up when she surged into a 4-1 advantage but Muguruza, wjinner of their previous five meetings, again showed her battling qualities to square the set at 4-4.

It was Radwanska who was able to sneak over the line, though, winning the third 7-5 to maintain her pursuit of winning the WTA Finals event at the seventh time of asking.