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Sharapova marches past Clijsters Sharapova marches past Clijsters
(about 1 hour later)
World number two Maria Sharapova won her 18th match in a row in beating Kim Clijsters 6-4 6-4 in the Red Group at the WTA Championships in Madrid.World number two Maria Sharapova won her 18th match in a row in beating Kim Clijsters 6-4 6-4 in the Red Group at the WTA Championships in Madrid.
Sharapova was simply too powerful for Clijsters, who had made a winning return to action in Belgium last week after two months out with injury.Sharapova was simply too powerful for Clijsters, who had made a winning return to action in Belgium last week after two months out with injury.
US Open champion Sharapova, who could finish the season as world number one, now has one foot in the semi-finals.US Open champion Sharapova, who could finish the season as world number one, now has one foot in the semi-finals.
The Russian 19-year-old has not lost a match since August.The Russian 19-year-old has not lost a match since August.
World number four Svetlana Kuznetsova began her Madrid campaign with a 7-5 6-3 win over fellow Russian Elena Dementieva.After a titanic struggle in the first set, lasting 70 minutes, Kuznetsova claimed it at the third time of asking. In Wednesday's other Red Group match, world number four Svetlana Kuznetsova began her Madrid campaign with a 7-5 6-3 win over fellow Russian Elena Dementieva.After a titanic struggle in the first set, lasting 70 minutes, Kuznetsova claimed it at the third time of asking.
But one break in the second set proved enough for the former US Open champion to earn victory.But one break in the second set proved enough for the former US Open champion to earn victory.
However, she said afterwards that there was room for improvement in her game.However, she said afterwards that there was room for improvement in her game.
"I had a lot of chances that I didn't close out in thefirst set," the 21-year-old said. "I was losing myconcentration, but that's normal after a long season." "I had a lot of chances that I didn't close out in the first set," the 21-year-old said. "I was losing my concentration, but that's normal after a long season."
Dementieva, who lost her opening match to Maria Sharapova on Tuesday, is now almost certain to be eliminated.Dementieva, who lost her opening match to Maria Sharapova on Tuesday, is now almost certain to be eliminated.
The world number eight has now lost her last eight matches at the season-ending tournament, having been beaten in all three of her round-robin matches in both 2004 and 2005.The world number eight has now lost her last eight matches at the season-ending tournament, having been beaten in all three of her round-robin matches in both 2004 and 2005.


Yellow Group:(1) Amélie Mauresmo (Fra), (3) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel), (5) Nadia Petrova (Rus), (7) Martina Hingis (Swi)Yellow Group:(1) Amélie Mauresmo (Fra), (3) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel), (5) Nadia Petrova (Rus), (7) Martina Hingis (Swi)
Red Group:(2) Maria Sharapova (Rus), (6) Kim Clijsters (Bel), (4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus), (8) Elena Dementieva (Rus)Red Group:(2) Maria Sharapova (Rus), (6) Kim Clijsters (Bel), (4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus), (8) Elena Dementieva (Rus)