Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska set up title clash after coming through semis at WTA Finals
Sunday 1 November 2015 12:13, UK
Petra Kvitova will target her second WTA Finals title after defeating Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The fourth-seeded Kvitova, who won the trophy on her first attempt in 2011, withstood a second set comeback from the Russian to close out a 6-3, 7-6 win that secured a clash with Agnieszka Radwanska in Sunday's final.
After dropping the opening set, Sharapova pulled into a 5-1 lead in the second, but could not serve it out and her Czech opponent took control of the decisive tie-breaker.
Radwanska had earlier clinched her place after defeating Garbine Muguruza in a gruelling semi-final.
The Pole was edged out in the first set tie-break, but gradually wore down the wilting Muguruza to complete a 6-7 6-3 7-5 victory.
Both players exchanged breaks during an entertaining opener, which was extended into a tie-break and Radwanska fell behind after she found the net in a prolonged rally.
But the world No 6 raced into a 4-0 lead in the second set and levelled the match, despite a mini-revival from Muguruza.
The Spaniard's efforts appeared to take their toll in the decider as she wearily handed over another early break.
Yet the losing Wimbledon finalist was still able to claw her way back into the set until Radwanska finally ended her resistance with a decisive break in the 12th game.
"I didn't know I could come back after that first set," said Radwanska.
"It was a great match from the beginning to the end, lots of ups and downs, so many rallies and a lot of running. I am just so glad I could win that match."
