Sharapova wins first match against Dementieva

Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin-Hardenne improved their chances of advancing out of the group stages and claiming the season-ending No. 1 ranking with wins.

Sharapova, who won the championships two years ago, broke Dementieva four times to take the first set in 27 minutes.

Neither player managed to hold convincingly in the second set, and Dementieva's serve - which accounted for 15 double faults - let her down again and Sharapova broke her for the seventh time to seal her ninth successive win and a 6-1, 6-4 win.

"I don't think I expected myself to play my best tennis tonight," Sharapova said. "I was rusty at times, but I hope I can learn a few things from today and move on and get better from here."

The 19-year-old Sharapova can finish the year as No. 1 should she win her sixth title of 2006 this week and Henin-Hardenne fails to reach the final.