{Maria Sharapova’s hopes of becoming the year-end world number one went up in smoke Tuesday when she crashed in straight sets to Petra Kvitova at the WTA Finals in Singapore.}<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Wozniacki took more than three hours to beat Sharapova on Tuesday and another long match looked likely when she fought with Radwanska in a tight opening set which featured five breaks of serve.<\/p>\n
But the super-fit former world number one, who is training for the New York marathon, raced through the second set to step towards her first semi-final at the year-ender since 2009.<\/p>\n
“I knew from the start that this wasn’t going to be an easy match,” Wozniacki said.<\/p>\n
“I came out there a little bit nervous, but you know, I just did my best out there,” added the world number eight.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2014 AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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