Tennis

Sharapova triumphs at Indian Wells

Second seed Maria Sharapova blasts her way past Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-2 to claim her second Indian Wells title.
Last Modified: 17 Mar 2013 21:24
The Russian took one hour 21 minute to dismantle Wozniacki, breaking her twice in each set [AFP]

Maria Sharapova beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday to win her second Indian Wells WTA title in emphatic style.

The 25-year-old Russian, already projected to supplant Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at No. 2 in world rankings by reaching her first final of the season, broke Wozniacki twice in each set en route to the victory in one hour and 21 minutes.

The win in a match between former champions gave her a second title to go with the Indian Wells crown she claimed in 2006.

It was Sharapova's first title since her 2012 French Open triumph gave her a career Grand Slam, and stretched her streak of years with at least one title to 11.

"This is what I do all the work for is these moments," a beaming Sharapova said.

"You feel like everything has paid off."

Early pressure

Sharapova put her foot on the gas early with a break in the first game and didn't let up, firing winners off both wings and peppering Wozniacki with four aces.

"It's the final," she said. "You have to be on from the first point."

She broke Wozniacki again in the seventh game, her only hiccup coming as she served for the set at 5-2 and made two errors to give Wozniacki a double break point.

Sharapova saved both with backhand winners, then sealed the set with an ace and a forehand winner.

The Russian opened the second set with another break, Wozniacki a bit unlucky with a double fault on break point as her second serve bounced off the net cord.

Wozniacki worked hard to extend the rallies, but she couldn't penetrate Sharapova's serve, her consultation with her coach in each set apparently giving her few new clues on how to do so.

Sharapova broke her again for a 5-2 lead, and served it out with a love game punctuated by a service winner on match point.

Wozniacki, a former world No. 1 who owns 20 WTA titles - including an Indian Wells win in 2011 - has still never beaten a top-three player in a final.

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Source:
AFP
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