By Chris Oddo | Thursday, October 23, 2014

When her back is against the wall, Maria Sharapova typically finds a way to summon her very best tennis when it matters most. But on Friday in Singapore it was Agnieszka Radwanska who rose to the challenge.

WTA: Serena Williams Clinches Year-End Ranking for Fourth Time

Radwanska, who had jumped to the top of the white group’s standing with her opening-round win over Petra Kvitova, fought from the brink of elimination in Singapore, rallying from 4-0 and 5-1 down in the second set, and saving three match points en route to dramatic win in the second-set tiebreaker.

Sharapova, who needed to win in straight sets in order to keep alive her hopes of reaching the last four in Singapore, had turned a tense battle into a rout—at least temporarily—by reeling off six consecutive games from 5-all in the first set to take control of the second.

But the Russian would fall apart dramatically as the set progressed. So would her title hopes.

Eventually she prevailed in the match, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-2, but the victory was a bitter pill to swallow, rather than a cause for celebration for the Russian.

After Sharapova built what seemed to be an invincible lead in set two, Radwanska began to peck away, and Sharapova, typically a steely front-runner, started to feel the pressure. The Russian twice failed to serve for the match, and Radwanska saved three match points in total before finally breaking to level at five-all.

After falling behind 6-5, Sharapova would briefly rally to force a tiebreaker before imploding and serving two double-faults—one on set point—to end her hopes of mounting an improbable run to the title in Singapore and the year-end No. 1 ranking.

The pair had a slow start that featured breaks of serve in the first four games, but Radwanska got on track first and even had double-break point to go up 5-3 in the opener. But that bit of pressure seemed to stiffen the resolve of Sharapova. The Russian won the next two points to hold, then won three of the next four games to take the opening set.

After the wild second set, Sharapova righted her game and pushed past Radwanska with a gritty effort. Many other players, jilted by the implications of the second set, might have hung their heads, but not Sharapova.

She converted her fourth match point, lashing a forehand return winner to seal the victory in three hours and nine minutes.

Radwanska stays alive for now with the loss, but she’ll have to have help from Caroline Wozniacki, who faces Petra Kvitova in Friday’s next match, in order to reach the semifinals. If Wozniacki wins, Radwanska will reach the last four, but if Kvitova triumphs, Radwanska will be eliminated.