Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska First To Qualify For Semifinal Round At 2015 WTA Finals

Maria Sharapova (click to enlarge)

I’ll hand it to Maria Sharapova. After Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Simona Halep earlier in the day at the 2015 WTA Finals, Masha, at 2-0 in round robin play, didn’t need to win her match against Flavia Pennetta to advance to the semifinal round. However, Aga not only needed Sharapova to win in order to advance (Aga was at 1-2 in round robin play), she needed Masha to win in straight sets. Anything else and Radwanska was out. Well, Masha came through for herself by sending Flavia Pennetta into retirement with a straight set dismissal, 7-5 6-1. Of course, Sharapova is a professional with great pride. It’s her job to give top effort. But with her injuries, and her spot in the semis already guaranteed, it would have been understandable had she taken her foot off the gas to make sure she was in peak condition for the next round. The ancillary benenfit to Aga is a ticket to the semis. Of course, one also has to credit Radwanska for not folding her tent after a 0-2 start in round robin play. She went out and eliminated the top overall seed, Simona Halep, 7-6 (5) 6-1, in her last round robin match, keeping her hopes alive for the semis. Now Masha (3-0) and Aga (1-2) will await the results of the other round robin group to see who they play. Garbine Muguruza (2-0) will face Petra Kvitova (1-1). Lucie Safarova (0-2) takes on Angelique Kerber (1-1).