Maria Sharapova blows chance to go to No. 1

MARIA Sharapova’s hopes of becoming the year-end world No. 1 have gone up in smoke after 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.
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 semi-finals.
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.