Wozniacki top of the world after Sharapova withdrawal
ISTANBUL: Maria Sharapova's season ended in disappointment on Wednesday as she saw her hopes of regaining the title at the WTA Championships after a seven year gap and of dethroning Caroline...
October 27, 2011
The former Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion from Russia announced that she was withdrawing from the women's tour's flagship event after losing 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to Li Na, the French Open champion from China.
Her decision ensured that Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki would become year-end world number one for the second successive year.
However, the Dane was unable to celebrate that with a victory as she was beaten 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 by Vera Zvonareva, the Russian who finished last year in second place, although this result decides nothing.
Provided Wozniacki beats Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Thursday, she will finish the group with two wins and with a decent chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Sharapova could still feel the ankle injury she sustained four weeks ago in Tokyo, despite a very spirited effort in a flawed but fine match against a revitalised Li.
She always sought to take the initiative from the hard-hitting Sharapova, and her boldness contributed to her first win since August.
It was also only Li's seventh since making history in Paris in June by becoming the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Sharapova had points for a double break of serve and a 5-2 lead in the first set, and then led 4-0 in the tie-break, before Li fought back brilliantly.
In the second set Sharapova trailed by two breaks but battled back to earn three points for a double break back at 5-5 before Li denied her and took the match.
