WTA Finals Singapore Day 7 Preview: Sharapova, Muguruza aim for final

It’s down to just four players at the WTA Finals in Singapore, each of whom will look desperately for a chance to advance to the final of WTA’s biggest premier event. For former champions Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova, a win will mark a return to the final while for Garbine Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska, it will be a maiden appearance in the summit clash. We preview the two semis:

(2) Garbine Muguruza v (5) Agnieszka Radwanska

Head-To-Head: Muguruza leads Radwanska 4-2

Muguruza is the stronger opponent, but Radwanska comes in on the back of a strong victory

The first semi-final pits the 2015 Wimbledon runner-up against the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up. Of the two, Garbine Muguruza has been the player to watch at this Championships. Making full use of her ferocious power hitting and smart tactics, the Spanish debutante has belied her 22 years to play like a veteran and has been unbeaten so far.

Muguruza has been authoritative and has never panicked when it came to taking her chances at this tournament in her three Round Robin matches. And her group was saddled with three left-handed players who are endowed with lethal ball-striking abilities.

If after her two straight-set wins over Lucie Safarova and Angelique Kerber, the Spaniard momentarily looked to have lost some steam against Petra Kvitova, then she quickly rebounded for a three-set victory over the Czech. Clearly, the new World No. 3 has been exhibiting all the goods that took her to the Wimbledon final, the Wuhan final and the Beijing crown this season.

Her semi-final is against Agnieszka Radwanska, whom she has beaten four times this season. Three of those four matches went the distance, including the most recent one at Beijing. Evidently, Muguruza’s fiery aggression has overpowered the Pole’s finesse each time.

At this Championships, Radwanska managed to scrape through to the semis just like last year with a 1-2 record in the Round Robin stage (after a superb win against Halep and defeats against Sharapova and Pennetta). She needs to do much more than just that if she wants to have any chance of making her first final at the Season-ender.

However, for all her ruthless precision, Muguruza has the danger of being fatigued after simultaneously playing in singles and doubles. In addition, her last singles match against Kvitova on Friday was a laborious affair. That just might take some sheen off the Spaniard’s racquet and aid Radwanska who is excellent at absorbing pace and throwing her opponents off their rhythm.

Having said that, one would still expect Muguruza to pull through after the amazing motivation she has shown all week.

Pick: Muguruza in three sets

3) Maria Sharapova v (4) Petra Kvitova

Head-To-Head: Sharapova leads Kvitova 6-3

The Russian former No. 1 has played well at the Finals despite being ridden by injury all year

If there’s one thing that has been a constant feature about Maria Sharapova through the years, then it is her heart and passion. The amount of passion that she has for the game is exceptionally admirable.

The 28-year-old has been showing just that in abundance this whole week in Singapore. As an arm injury hampered her fitness, the five-time major winner was left on the sidelines and did not get to play a complete match since the Wimbledon semis in July.

But having got a chance to finally play a full tournament, the 2004 WTA Finals champion has brought forth her fighting spirit and courage once again and reminded fans of her never-say-die attitude. Some rustiness was expected but that lasted only a set against Radwanska. Sharapova stormed through the Round Robin stages, posting straight-set victories over Pennetta and Halep and a three-set triumph over Radwanska.

The Russian has looked totally dialed-in with her eyes on the prize. Her immense use of dropshots has also proved that Sharapova has been working hard to bring more variety to her game and has been effortlessly using them when required to surprise her opponent.

She faces two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the only other former champion in the field. The left-handed 2011 winner has however, looked at times off the mark which is due to the effects of mononucleosis, with which she was recently diagnosed.

In the group stages, she registered a tough straight-set win over her compatriot Safarova but lost in straight sets to Kerber and in three sets to Muguruza. Kvitova needed help from Safarova to progress who duly delivered by thrashing Kerber in straight sets.

Obviously, this is not the best preparation for the Czech before facing a determined Sharapova. But the Czech generally peaks midway through a tournament which she wins and she can also take a lot of inspiration from a very important 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sharapova at this very tournament in 2014, which also happens to be their last encounter.

But will that be enough against the former World No. 1 who has a mighty 49-13 career record against lefties and has looked every bit poised to regain the title she won 11 years ago?

Pick: Sharapova in three sets