Maria Sharapova recorded her second victory in as many 2015 WTA Championship matches this afternoon.

The former world number one opened up her campaign with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Agnieszka Radwanska on Sunday, and she backed that up today with a 6-4 6-4 triumph against Simona Halep.

Sharapova had won the previous five meetings between the two players and she took control of this encounter in Singapore when she broke early on in the first set for a 2-0 lead.

Halep responded with a break of her own soon after, but the Romanian then handed the set to Sharapova when she was broken while serving at 5-4 down.

The 28-year-old Russian then raced into a 4-1 lead in the second set, only to be broken twice as Halep battled back. However, just as she had done in the opening set, Halep was unable to hold at 5-4 down.

Despite having won her first two group fixtures, Sharapova may still need to beat Flavia Pennetta on Thursday to book her place in the semi-finals.