• WTA Championships

Sharapova sets sights on No. 1 spot

ESPN staff
October 24, 2011
Maria Sharapova can become world No. 1 with victory at the WTA Championships © Getty Images
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Maria Sharapova knows she must hit the ground running as she bids to end the year as world No.1 at the WTA Championships in Turkey.

The three-time grand slam champion last finished the year at the top of the world rankings as a 17-year-old back in 2004, but she now has the chance to usurp Caroline Wozniacki at the top of the pile.

The pair will not meet until at least the semi-finals in Istanbul, with world No. 2 Sharapova drawn in the White Group, while Wozniacki heads the Red Group.

Sharapova will face Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and Sam Stosur in the round-robin stages, while Wozniacki has been drawn to play new world No. 3 Petra Kvitova, Vera Zvonareva and Agnieszka Radwanska.

Sharapova is making her fifth appearance at the year-end finals, and she knows she cannot afford to play her way into form.

"I think we all know what to expect going into the groups," she said. "It's the top eight girls of the year. You're going to get a tough group either way and tough opponents. It's just a matter of being ready from the first match on."

Azarenka is one of the in-form players after she did not drop a set on her way to the title in Luxembourg, and she is hoping to carry her momentum into the final event of the year.

"I was improving from match to match," Azarenka said after winning her third title of the year. "I came here to get matches before Istanbul and of course win the tournament - everywhere I enter, I try to be the best."

Red Group
1. Caroline Wozniacki
3. Petra Kvitova
6. Vera Zvonareva
8. Agnieska Radwanska

White Group
2. Maria Sharapova
4. Victoria Azarenka
5. Li Na
7. Sam Stosur

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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