Sharapova wins, but falls short of Singapore semis

Singapore (SportsNetwork.com) - Maria Sharapova won her last round-robin match Friday at the WTA Finals, but it was not enough to give her a berth in the semifinals of the season-ending tournament.

Sharapova needed a straight-set victory over Agnieszka Radwanska for a chance to advance, but Radwanska managed to pull out a set as the Russian came away with a 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 triumph.

Caroline Wozniacki then claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Petra Kvitova in the final White Group match on Friday. The Dane finished 3-0 in round-robin play.

Radwanska, Sharapova and Kvitova all finished 1-2 in the group, but Radwanska advanced to the semifinals because she won one more set than the other two. The Pole can thank her good friend Wozniacki, as a victory by Kvitova in the last White Group match would have instead sent Kvitova into the semis.

"When I saw (Wozniacki) yesterday, she was already saying, 'I know, I know.' She knew what was going on and that she could help me if she won," said Radwanska. "She wasn't surprised that I would be supporting her."

Radwanska will play Simona Halep in one of Saturday's semifinals, while Wozniacki will take on Serena Williams in the other.

Williams finished second in the Red Group, behind Halep, who was beaten by Ana Ivanovic on Friday, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-3. Halep, Williams and Ivanovic all finished 2-1 in round-robin play, but Ivanovic lost the tiebreaker. The Serb could have advanced with a straight-set win over Halep on Friday, a result that would have knocked Williams out of the tournament.

Friday's results, however, ensured Williams will be the top-ranked player at the end of the year. Sharapova could have eclipsed Williams by capturing the tournament if Williams didn't reach the final.

Williams, the two-time reigning champion and a four-time winner of the season- ending event, will face Wozniacki for the fourth time this year. The American has won each of the first three matchups, first in the Montreal quarterfinals, then in the Cincinnati semifinals and most recently in the U.S. Open final.

Overall, Williams owns a 9-1 career record and has won six straight matches against Wozniacki. The Dane's lone win in the series came in the 2012 Miami quarterfinals.

"My matchup against (Serena) hasn't been that great," said Wozniacki. "I won once and lost like 10 times or nine. I don't know. I don't even count anymore. But it's a new tournament. It's new week and I've been playing well, really. Again, I believe if I play like I did today, doesn't matter who's on the other side, I can win."

Radwanska is 4-2 lifetime against Halep. The two split a pair of matches earlier this year -- Halep winning a semifinal match in Doha and Radwanska coming through at the Indian Wells semis.

Saturday's winners will meet for the title on Sunday.