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DOHA, Feb 27: Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova fought back in style to beat Alicia Molik and clinch the WTA Qatar Open crown here on Saturday.
The Russian second seed prevailed over the Australian fourth seed 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in an intense final to claim the 94,000 dollar top prize and jump to number three in the WTA rankings.
The reigning Wimbledon champion thus extended her domination over Molik to three wins from four encounters. However, it was the first time that Sharapova had beaten Molik in a final, the Australian having won the title when they met for the title in Zurich in 2004.
FEDERER REACHES FINAL
DUBAI: Roger Federer overwhelmed Andre Agassi in only 52 minutes as he extended his record to 19 wins out of 20 this year and remained on course for his third title of the year at the Dubai Open.
Federer also hit something like his best form for the first time this week, winning 6-3, 6-1, a semifinal beating which had Agassi cooing in admiration. In final, he will take on Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, the man he beat to take the Rotterdam title last weekend.
Earlier in the day he had disposed of Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) although it had been a tough second set, and the feeling was that Federer used up less of his resources in disposing of another top 20 Russian, Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 7-5 in his delayed quarterfinal. For the second week in a row Federer will have a final against Ivan Ljubicic.
RESULTS:
SEMIFINAL: Roger Federer (SWI) bt Andre Agassi (USA) 6-3, 6-2; Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-4, 6-3.
QUARTERFINALS: Roger Federer (SWI) bt Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-3, 7-5; Andre Agassi (USA) bt Nikolay Dayydenko (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
TITLE FOR NADAL
ACAPULCO: Rafael Nadal handed Davis Cup champions Spain a timely boost by clinching his second title in two weeks with a 6-1, 6-0 mauling of compatriot Albert Montanes in the final. -Agencies
