Singapore Day 4: White group still wide open, Halep qualifies for semi-finals

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Petra Kvitova

Another busy day in Singapore saw the second set of matches completed in the white group with all four players still in the running ahead of the final group matches on Friday.  In the first of Thursday’s matches, Caroline Wozniacki maintained her unbeaten record in Singapore with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska.  It was a very entertaining match featuring plenty of lengthy rallies.  Radwanska had the ascendancy in the first set, twice going up a break.  She was playing some delightful tennis, hitting one magnificent volley in the seventh game.  Wozniacki though, is playing with a great deal of confidence right now after a stunning summer and beating Maria Sharapova in her first match.  The Dane managed to fight back, secured the all important break at 5-5 and held to take the first set.

After a tight start to the second set, Wozniacki won the last four games of the match to secure a vital straight sets win that puts her in a great position to qualify for the semi-finals.  In the second of the matches from the white group, Petra Kvitova earnt her first win over Maria Sharapova since the 2011 Wimbledon final with a superb 6-3 6-2 victory.  Sharapova had won their last five matches including in Beijing two weeks ago where she edged Kvitova in the final, 6-4 2-6 6-3.  Petra started slowly, quickly going 0-2 down; however she found her very best form to win nine games on the trot.  Kvitova served for a second set bagel, eventually winning two games later.

All four players remain in the hunt for qualification from the white group and it is complicated! The only way that Wozniacki WON’T qualify is if she loses to Kvitova in straight sets and Radwanska beats Sharapova in straight sets.  Sharapova’s only chance of making the semi-final relies on her beating Radwanska in straight sets and Wozniacki beating Kvitova in straight sets.  On Friday, Sharapova will take on Radwanska and Kvitova will play Wozniacki.

In the final singles match of the day from the red group, Serena Williams thrashed Eugenie Bouchard, 6-1 6-1.  It’s been a rough week for Genie, who is the first player to be officially eliminated from the tournament, but this shouldn’t take away from what has been an incredible year for her.  She will have a tough ask backing it up next year, but she has proven this year with her performances at the Grand Slams that she is highly capable.  By virtue of Bouchard winning one game, this meant that Simona Halep qualified for the semi-finals.  The final match from the red group will feature Ana Ivanovic and Simona Halep, who play at not before 7.30pm local time in Singapore.  Ivanovic needs to beat Halep in straight sets to qualify, otherwise Serena will progress to the semi-finals.

Photo: Jimmie48

Post written by James of Moo’s Tennis Blog

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