Sharapova sat down in 84 minutes by 7: 5, 6: 1 by, whereby the US Open champion Pennetta retired.
Advertisement
“For sure I’m exhausted today”, Muguruza said.
Sharapova’s victory also eased Agnieszka Radwanska’s way into the semi finals after losing her first two matches of the round robin stage.
It marked a premature end to a year of mixed fortunes for the world number two, who was top seed at the elite eight woman event in Singapore after the withdrawal of defending champion Serena Williams due to fatigue.
Flavia Pennetta bowed out of professional tennis with a 7-5 6-1 defeat at the hands of Maria Sharapova in the WTA Finals on Thursday.
The 33-year old announced her retirement just moments after becoming the oldest first-time Grand Slam winner. In New York, the wind went out of her sails at the most crucial of times.
With a little help from the Russian, Pennetta’s first plan of action was to break the Sharapova serve before a flurry of winners made it 2-0 within a matter of seconds. And even after falling down 1-5 in the tiebreaker, she rallied to win the final six points and win the opening set. 6-4 with Red Group now set to go down to the wire in Thursday’s final round-robin matches.
“I was done”, Halep told reporters. But I let myself have a break from tennis for about one month after Wimbledon, and then I set no expectations in the US – I just played and tried my best. Pennetta led 4-2 in the first. I mean, I’m a little bit exhausted to fight every week.
Pennetta played a solid match – her winners outnumbered her unforced errors, 18 to 14.
Coming into the tournament, Simona Halep would say she felt no pressure as the top seed, and despite the ever present niggling injuries that plague the players at the end of a season, she declared herself fit and ready.
“Right now I feel completely normal, like it’s not my last match – I don’t know why”. And the other part is it’s not easy to say goodbye, because you are in your high moment and… but it is the way I feel. I have many things to improve. “But right now it’s so far, so good”.
The two semi-finalists will discover their last-four opponents on Friday when the White Group reaches its conclusion.
Advertisement
Kvitova, at 1-2, can only reach the semifinals if the already eliminated Lucie Safarova beats Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the late match.
