TOKYO, Feb 6: Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova dashed the hopes of world number one Lindsay Davenport for a record fifth victory here by wresting the singles title at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Russian starlet, who defeated Davenport on her way to her first Grand Slam victory at the All- England Club in their only previous meeting, triumphed 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).
The two players appeared evenly matched in the first three games. But Davenport, with her left thigh taped, lost the following four games in succession without even taking a game point on her serve to go down 1-6. She took a medical time out at the beginning of the second set.
Davenport could not move well and used her big serves and fine placing to jump ahead 3-0 in the second set. She went on to keep the lead before hitting an ace to even the contest at one-all.
Neither could break each other in the final set, with Davenport concentrating on holding her serve and saving one break point in the fourth game. But Sharapova fired a fine service return winner to take a 4-2 lead in the tie-breaker and then a 5-2 lead thanks to a backhand error by the American, before taking a commanding 6-2 lead.
Davenport saved three match points but Sharapova hit a forehand winner to finish off the one-hour-48-minute contest at her fourth attempt.
Results:
Singles final: Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) bt Lindsay Davenport (USA x1) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Doubles final: Janette Husarova/Elena Likhovtseva (SVK/RUS x2) bt Lindsay Davenport/Corina Morariu (USA) 6-4, 6-3
Title for Martinez
PATTAYA (Thailand): Conchita Martinez won her first title in nearly five years on Sunday when she defeated Germany's Anna Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the Volvo Open final in Thailand.
Although Groenefeld was competing in the first final of her career, the 19-year-old challenged well and used her powerful serve and forehand to trouble her more experienced opponent.
At one stage of the second set she was virtually unplayable, rushing the net and hitting some stunning volleys as she broke twice to lead 3-0.-AFP
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.