TNT Sports
Sharapova halts Hantuchova
By
Published 22/10/2006 at 15:35 GMT+1
US Open champion Maria Sharapova held off a late charge to defeat Daniela Hantuchova 6-1 4-6 6-3 and win the Zurich Open on Sunday. Though Hantuchova responded to a battering in the first set with a strong second, the Russian ultimately proved too much, w
TENNIS 2006 WTA Zurich Maria Sharapova kissing trophy
Image credit: Reuters
Sharapova cruised to a 6-1 victory in the first set behind two breaks and dominating service games, but Hantuchova rallied behind the support of the Zurich crowd to start the second set with a break of her own.
Though Sharapova returned to her unrelenting style of play after the lapse, the 23-year-old Slovakian matched her point-for-point in the second frame.
Hantuchova's challenge only seemed to anger the second seed, and in the third set Sharapova showed the will that makes her a two-time Grand Slam champion and the third ranked player in the world.
After dropping the first service point of the third set, Sharapova won four straight to take the opening service game.
She then nearly broke Hantuchova on the Slovakian's proceeding service game, but allowed the unseeded Hantuchova to came back from two break points to save serve.
After Hantuchova forced the Russian to deuce from 40-15 on Sharapova's next service game, the World No. 3 pulled out an unreturnable serve to hold.
Sharapova then forced the Slovakian No. 1 to commit the errors necessary for her to take the only break she needed to win the crucial set and the match.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion closed the tournament in domineering fashion with two consecutive aces.
The victory is Sharapova's 14th career title, and left her desiring a return to the top of the world order.
"I'd love to win many more grand slams, and I'd love to be number one in the world again" she said after the victory.
Hantuchova had one of her strongest tournament's of 2006, one which should lift her from 22nd in the world to 16th.
"I just tried to go back to what I did well this week, which was enjoying my game," she said of her comeback in the second set. "I guess I wanted it too much, and I was just trying too hard at the beginning."
Asked what had happened in the second set Sharapova admitted to folding, but then said knew what she had to do in order to rebound.
"Not to much [happened], I lost the game," Sharapova said laughing. "In tennis things can change really quickly, and that was one great example of that. You just have to get yourself back together, and win anyway you can."
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement