She's back - Sharapova floors top seed in Singapore
Maria Sharapova emphatically declared her return to form after months of injury problems on Tuesday as she beat top seed Simona Halep 6-4, 6-4 at the WTA finals in Singapore.
Sharapova showed few signs of rust or fitness problems but she had to overcome a determined fightback from the world number two before finally closing out the victory.
The Russian, who had not completed a match since July when she arrived at the eight-player season finale, now tops Red Group after also beating Agnieszka Radwanska.
Earlier Flavia Pennetta upset Radwanska 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 with Red Group now set to go down to the wire in Thursday's final round-robin matches.
The five-time Grand Slam-winner broke at the crucial moment for a one-set lead when Halep, serving to stay in the first set, made her first two double faults.
She grabbed a double break to go 5-1 up in the second set before Romania's Halep belatedly rediscovered her mojo, dragging it back to 5-4 in an inspired spell.
But Sharapova, after a stern talking-to by her coach, then brought up two match points on Halep's serve and she finished it with a firm backhand into the corner.
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