The Russian player denied Jelena Jankovic her first title since March of 2010 by executing a second-set comeback bid and hanging on for a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory.
Sharapova raised her arms and smiled after winning the two-hour, 49-minute W&S Open title match – the longest Women’s Tennis Association final of the year, and the 11th to go three sets.
“I was so close last year, so it’s nice to have that feeling of being the champion after going through a tough one last year,” Sharapova said. “It wasn’t really something I thought about coming in this week. I just knew that I played some good tennis here last year, and I hoped that I could take it a step further.”
That she did.
Sharapova clinched her second title of the year and first since beating Samantha Stosur in Rome in May. Besides claiming a $360,000 purse and 900 ranking points, she’s expected to vault from No. 7 in the WTA rankings to No. 4 when today’s poll is released.
The last time she was fourth in the world was August of 2008.
Jankovic, the 2009 W&S Open champion, said the match could have gone either way. The Serbian player said her biggest downfalls were her inconsistent serving and double faults.
She thought the wind might have had something to do with them.
“Sometimes I would toss (the ball) and it would go too far in front or somewhere where it’s not my hitting zone,” Jankovic said. “But I don’t want to make excuses. Just it wasn’t my serving day. I wish it was, because it would be a big difference.”
Jankovic wasn’t the only one having serving issues. The match was dominated by 16 total service breaks that prevented either player from claiming the momentum.
“(It) felt like one of us played a few good points and than the other one and the levels were up and down throughout the match,” Sharapova said.
Sharapova, though, held serve at crucial junctures. Trailing 6-5 in the second set, she held serve to ensure the tiebreaker.
Jankovic unraveled as the tiebreaker progressed, hitting the ball into the net or blasting it wide. Sharapova seized control and won the last five points to ensure a third set.
“I think I really forced her to make those mistakes. I hit the ball deeper than I probably was,” Sharapova said.
After six consecutive breaks in the third set, Sharapova finally held serve again. She clenched her fist, threw back her head and roared.
She broke Jankovic once more for the 5-3 lead and held on for the win.
Jankovic departed with $180,000 and 620 ranking points. She said she couldn’t be disappointed with her finish, especially considering her confidence level entering the tournament.
“If somebody told me I was going to play a final here, you know, I would right away sign the paper, because I wasn’t doing well and lost in the first round in Toronto the week before and haven’t played matches since Wimbledon,” Jankovic said. “So I was kind of rusty and didn’t feel really comfortable and confident with my game.”
Sharapova hopes she can take the momentum into the US Open.
“I’m definitely proud that I’ve gone further and better than I did last year,” Sharapova said. “It means a lot to me after a disappointing loss
That she did.
Sharapova clinched her second title of the year and first since beating Samantha Stosur in Rome in May. Besides claiming a $360,000 purse and 900 ranking points, she’s expected to vault from No. 7 in the WTA rankings to No. 4 when today’s poll is released.
The last time she was fourth in the world was August of 2008.
Jankovic, the 2009 W&S Open champion, said the match could have gone either way. The Serbian player said her biggest downfalls were her inconsistent serving and double faults.
She thought the wind might have had something to do with them.
“Sometimes I would toss (the ball) and it would go too far in front or somewhere where it’s not my hitting zone,” Jankovic said. “But I don’t want to make excuses. Just it wasn’t my serving day. I wish it was, because it would be a big difference.”
Jankovic wasn’t the only one having serving issues. The match was dominated by 16 total service breaks that prevented either player from claiming the momentum.
“(It) felt like one of us played a few good points and than the other one and the levels were up and down throughout the match,” Sharapova said.
Sharapova, though, held serve at crucial junctures. Trailing 6-5 in the second set, she held serve to ensure the tiebreaker.
Jankovic unraveled as the tiebreaker progressed, hitting the ball into the net or blasting it wide. Sharapova seized control and won the last five points to ensure a third set.
“I think I really forced her to make those mistakes. I hit the ball deeper than I probably was,” Sharapova said.
After six consecutive breaks in the third set, Sharapova finally held serve again. She clenched her fist, threw back her head and roared.
She broke Jankovic once more for the 5-3 lead and held on for the win.
Jankovic departed with $180,000 and 620 ranking points. She said she couldn’t be disappointed with her finish, especially considering her confidence level entering the tournament.
“If somebody told me I was going to play a final here, you know, I would right away sign the paper, because I wasn’t doing well and lost in the first round in Toronto the week before and haven’t played matches since Wimbledon,” Jankovic said. “So I was kind of rusty and didn’t feel really comfortable and confident with my game.”
Sharapova hopes she can take the momentum into the US Open.
“I’m definitely proud that I’ve gone further and better than I did last year,” Sharapova said. “It means a lot to me after a disappointing loss
Maria Sharapova waited out the rain before running over Samantha Stosur to capture the title at the Italian Open.