Los Angeles - World No 1 Lindsay Davenport looks to wrap up a perfect round-robin performance at the WTA Tour Championships when she faces Russian glamour girl Maria Sharapova in her final group match.
Davenport heads into the clash with the security of knowing her semifinal berth is assured, thanks to her earlier victories over Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and Russian Nadia Petrova.
Schnyder and Petrova kicked off action at the Staples Centre on Thursday night, Schnyder posting a 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Petrova.
But for Schnyder, the win after two Green Group defeats was probably too little to late, as remained on the brink of elimination.
Petrova's second defeat in two matches left her with a slim chance, depending on how Sharapova fared against Davenport.
The top two finishers in each of the two four-woman groups advance to the semifinals.
The semifinal picture was shaping up in the Black Group as well. Group leader Mary Pierce had the night off after convincing wins over world No 2 Kim Clijsters and Russian Elena Dementieva.
But her fellow Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo had a chance to secure both of their places in the final four with a win over Dementieva in Thursday's third match.
But the drawing card of the night for Southern California fans was undoubtedly local her Davenport and Sharapova.
Sharapova beat Davenport in the semifinals en route to her 2004 Wimbledon title and again in a third-set tiebreaker at Tokyo earlier this year.
However, Davenport rocked Sharapova with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the semifinals at Indian Wells.
Not only is Davenport gunning for the prestigious Championships title and a hefty $1-million (about R7-million) first prize, the American is trying to hang on to the year-end world No 1 ranking.
Her chances of doing so looked good after world No 2 Kim Clijsters lost her first two round-robin matches, to put herself on the verge of an early departure.