Maria Sharapova news: Russian Star Advances to Semifinals of the WTA Finals
U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta was sent home packing and eventually into retirement after losing to Maria Sharapova in straight sets on Thursday, 7-5, 6-1. With the win, the third ranked Russian will be moving forward to the semifinals of the WTA Finals.
Before the tournament, Pennetta already announced that she is playing her last, saying that she would hang up her racket at the season's end. Sharapova on the other hand completed the elimination stage undefeated, 3-0.
Speaking to reporters, Pennetta said although she isn't feeling that it is her last match, she believes she'll feel the difference in a "few days."
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This tournament is Sharapova's "bounce back" since she did not have a lot of success in the previous ones, having been sidelined with an injury (leg) in the Wimbledon semifinals and getting an early exit in Wuhan after another injury, this time on her left wrist.
In the other match, top-seeded Simona Halep was ousted by Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-6 (5), 6-1. The Polish player will also be advancing to the semifinal round. The three players, Radwanska, Pennetta, and Halep actually finished the round-robin state with similar records (1-2), but Radwanska advanced since she won more sets.
Talking about her match against Sharapova, Pennetta said, "It was a good way to say goodbye because you lose against such a good player."
Radwanska saw herself trailing early, even facing a 5-1 in the tiebreaker; but she eventually gathered herself and turned it around. Halep was able to save a break point to hold serve in the first game, but only managed a point in three more service games.
Halep admitted after the game that she felt tired after losing the opportunity to win the first set, knowing that the outcome could have been different if she won that set. She told the Associated Press, "I was done, no energy anymore."
