Maria Sharapova fends off a late challenge from Simona Halep to beat her 6-4 6-4 in the WTA Finals in Singapore on Tuesday (27th October).

Script:

Simona Halep was looking for her first win over Maria Sharapova at the sixth attempt, when they faced each other in the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Halep came into this off the back of a win in her opening rubber in the Red Group against US Open champion Flavia Pennetta and she looked on her game early on.

The Romanian had dropped just three games in her match with Pennetta, while on the other hand Sharapova had taken over two hours to win her Finals opener up against Agnieska Radwanska.

The World No.2 and 4 were trading some big blows yet it was the subtly of Sharapova that took this point.

The Russian would go onto take the first and then make her move deep in the second.

She setup two match points on the Halep serve and her aggressive tactics paid off.

All will be decided on Thursday in the Red Group with all four still able to qualify.