Tennis: Sharapova wins marathon to put stamp on WTA Finals
Maria Sharapova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the WTA Finals on Sunday.
SINGAPORE (AFP) - Maria Sharapova won a three-set marathon against Agnieszka Radwanska as she shrugged off injury concerns and laid down a significant marker at the WTA Finals on Sunday.
The Russian had not completed a match since the Wimbledon semi-finals after leg and forearm problems but she overcame some rusty play to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours 47 minutes.
It could prove a useful work-out for the world number three as she bids to recover the title she won aged 17 on debut in 2004. Top-ranked Serena Williams has opted not to defend her title.
Last year s runner-up Simona Halep earlier destroyed Flavia Pennetta 6-0, 6-3 to also get off the mark in the Red Group round robin, with matches to come against Sharapova and Radwanska.
"Matches like this, I think they take a few years out of your life. God knows what is happening with my hair. I think I lost half of it. It s like I don t even want it open this bun up because it s just a disaster," Sharapova said.
"But you know what? I m happy I got through. Yeah, I m going to feel it tomorrow and I m going to be a little bit tired, but, hey, that s the game. I m proud that I was able to get through."
Shot-making Radwanska edged Sharapova in the first set as she gained the only break in the ninth game and calmly served it out -- before the Russian caught a verbal volley from her coach.
The strict instructions to be more aggressive did the trick as Sharapova broke twice in the second set and buried the first set point with a thumping forehand to level the match.
The Russian was cruising as she grabbed a double break in the third set, but she was then broken as she served for the match and double-faulted on match point in her next service game.
However, an ace immediately brought up another match point and a delighted Sharapova tasted victory for the first time in nearly four months as Radwanska put a forehand into the net.
Earlier Romanian top seed Halep beat Pennetta convincingly to gain some measure of revenge for her defeat to the Italian in the US Open semi-finals.
World number two Halep also showed no signs of the left Achilles tendon injury that forced her to retire at this month s China Open as she dominated the opening match in Singapore.
Halep, 24, shocked Williams en route to last year s final and is seeded top after the world number one opted out of the eight-player showdown in order to rest.
"I have great memories from last year so I had confidence," Halep said after the match. "I played solid today."
Soon-to-retire US Open champion Pennetta, 33, had a 4-1 head-to-head advantage going into the match, but Halep boasted a tour-leading 40 match wins on hardcourts this season.
"She was playing really well today," Pennetta said, complimenting Halep s consistent serve. "Maybe I had not too much energy."
Halep admitted Sunday that she was nervous at their US Open meeting but had learned from her 6-1, 6-3 humbling at Flushing Meadows.
"I have learned about how to manage the situation when you play semi-finals, and I hope to have many more and to pass that bad feeling," she said.
