Henin to face Kuznetsova in final

Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates after winning her semi-final match against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia for the WTA Qatar Total Open in Doha, 02 March 2007.

DOHA, Qatar -- Top seed Justine Henin beat Serbian Jelena Jankovic 6-7 6-2 6-4 to reach the final of the Qatar Open on Friday and stay on course for a 'Gulf Double'.

The Belgian's opponent in Saturday's final will be Russian second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-2.

Henin, who won her first title of the season in Dubai last week after beating Kuznetsova in the semifinals, extended her winning streak to 7-0 after beating the fourth seed in two hours and 22 minutes.

Both players made a string of unforced errors, resulting in breaks and counter-breaks.

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"I think I need some tennis," said Henin, the world number two who split with her husband late last year and made a delayed start to the season. "I am happy to stay longer on the court. But it is always better to win in two sets.

"You need to keep fighting and I needed this kind of a match to get my confidence back. I am very happy with the way I kept fighting. I wasn't playing very well, but I came back very strongly," she added.

"I had my chances in the first set, but did not take those opportunities.

"In the second set I played much better and in the third set I had control of the match even though it was hard to keep my serve. I remained very aggressive on the return."

Jankovic, who withdrew from her semifinal against Amelie Mauresmo in Dubai last week, said she still had problems with a sore left ankle.

She also blamed the windy conditions for making too many mistakes, a complaint Henin echoed.

"It was a big problem," said the Belgian. "I wear contacts and with the sand and wind it wasn't easy at all. It was hard to play good tennis."

Henin broke Jankovic in the first game to gain a psychological advantage, but the Serbian broke back in the eighth to make it 4-4.

Henin led 5-4 with another service break, but Jankovic fought back again to level the scores. At 6-5 Henin was serving again for the set, but the Serbian saved the situation and forced the tie-break. Jankovic eventually clinched the set 7-5.
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Henin Beats Mauresmo For Fourth Career Dubai Title

Justine Henin of Belgium holds the trophy after she beat Amelie Mauresmo of France in their final tennis match for Dubai Duty Free Open 24 February 2007. Henin won 6-4, 7-5.

DUBAI, UAE - When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That was the theme throughout the week in Dubai as a somewhat rusty Justine Henin played her way back into top form, and on Saturday night extended her undefeated streak in the Middle Eastern paradise to 16-0 with her fourth Dubai Duty Free Women's Open title. She downed Amelie Mauresmo in an intense final, 64 75.

The championship match, played under the lights of the beautiful Dubai Tennis Stadium, was a tight affair save the first and final moments. The top-seeded Henin broke twice to jump ahead 4-1 in the first set; Mauresmo, the No.2 seed, got one break back then nearly pulled even, holding points to close to 4-all, but was unable to capitalize. The second set was a tight one as well as the players remained on serve throughout most of it; but again it was the Belgian who pulled through in the crunch, holding, breaking and holding on a 12-point, three-game tear for her 16th straight win at the $1.5 million, Tier II event.

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Henin said that the dynamic hinged on that near-turnaround in the eighth game.

"That was the key of the first set for sure, and probably of the match, because she was coming back in the match very strongly and I was starting to feel a little bit nervous; but I had good serves and was pretty aggressive," said Henin, who broke a 6-6 head-to-head tie against Mauresmo with the win. "Tonight I played my best tennis and I'm very proud of it."

The Belgian had not had an ideal beginning to the 2007 season. Having finished last season as the world's No.1, she missed the entire Australian season due to personal reasons, then fell in the semifinals of her first event of the year in Paris. But her fortune changed in the desert paradise that is Dubai, where she had already claimed singles titles in 2003, 2004 and last year.

"It was hard for me this week; I had a lot of ups and downs, but I kept fighting," said Henin, who survived three set scares from Tamira Paszek and Svetlana Kuznetsova in earlier matches. "I've been very positive. Each point has been important for me this week. I think I deserved it today. I love this place."

Mauresmo, who was coming off her third consecutive Proximus Diamond Games title in Antwerp (receiving the coveted diamond-studded racquet for that effort), was disappointed, but was still encouraged at her level of play this past week.

"I'm really proud of showing the crowd here in Dubai some of my best tennis; unfortunately I didn't get the title, but I really enjoyed it here," said Mauresmo, who won here in 2002. "I said at the beginning of the week it was going to be difficult to get through to the end. I almost got there. It was only the matter of a few points here and there. She just played some great shots at the right time."

Henin improved to 30-15 in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles finals with the win, while Mauresmo fell to 24-20. They are expected to remain at No.2 and No.3, respectively, when the new singles rankings are released this coming Monday.

Others who made headlines this past week were Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Martina Hingis for a semifinal berth before spraining her left ankle and retiring against Mauresmo Friday evening; Kuznetsova, who also reached the semifinals before falling to Henin in three; and Eleni Daniilidou and Alicia Molik, who both notched Top 20 victories earlier in the week.

But Dubai belonged to Henin, who, playing just her second event of the season, brought out some inspired aggressive form to move herself back in the winner's circle. And she doesn't intend on slowing down, or looking back, any time soon.

"Sure I had a great season last year but that's already in the past. I love tennis so much and it's my passion, so every time I walk on the court, it's to give my best and to enjoy the moment. I love competition. I'm sure I'll come out even stronger with a little more time."
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Mauresmo beats Clijsters in final

French Amelie Mauresmo celebrates as she won the final against Kim Clijsters at the Antwerp Proximus Diamond Games WTA tennis tournament, 18 February 2007. Amelie Mauresmo won 6-4, 7-6 and the racket of 1700 diamonds, of a weight of 17 kg and wich values 1 million euro, as she won the tournement for the third time in 3 years.

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo spoiled Kim Clijsters' last appearance on home soil with a straight-sets win in the Diamond Games final in Antwerp.

Mauresmo won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to become the first player to win a hat-trick of Antwerp titles, and for that feat also won a diamond-studded racquet trophy.

"I said all week I didn't think about it, but honestly I thought about it the whole week," said Mauresmo.

Clijsters was playing her last match in Belgium before retiring later in 2007.

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"There is no better champion than you," Clijsters said of Mauresmo. "I admire you in so many ways."

Despite the warm words from Clijsters, the 15,000 sell-out crowd made their feelings known throughout the match, notably when Mauresmo won the penultimate point in the tie-break.

"It's a bit difficult for me now because I know you are all very disappointed," Mauresmo told the crowd.

"I am sorry. I understand, Kim is a great champion."

Clijsters was always struggling in a match littered with errors, and the 23-year-old Belgian lost her opening service game before breaking back in the fourth game.

Belgium's Kim Clijsters wipes a tear as she lost against France's Amelie Mauresmo at the final of the Diamond games in Antwerp, Belgium, Sunday Feb. 18, 2007. Kim Clijsters bid a tearful farewell to her Belgian fans Sunday after losing at her last tournament on home turf before retiring later this season.

But her serve soon let her down again as Mauresmo took the first set, before both players broke serve twice in the second.

Clijsters fought back from two break points down in the tie-break to level at 4-4 before Mauresmo won three points in a row.

"Enjoy the beautiful racquet, you deserve it and I am sure it will find a nice place in your house," said Clijsters.

"You always play well here and you are a terrific player."
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Clijsters & Mauresmo reach final

Belgium's Kim Clijsters returns the ball during the semi-finals of the Proximus Diamond Games against France's Tatiana Golovin at the Sportpalace in Antwerp, Belgium, Saturday Feb. 17, 2007. Klijsters won the match 6-4, 6-3.

Kim Clijsters ensured that her last match on Belgian soil will be a tough encounter when she set up a Diamond Games final against Amelie Mauresmo.

French top seed Amelie Mauresmo battled to a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over Russia's Anna Chakvetadze in the first of Saturday's semi-finals in Antwerp.

And Clijsters, 23, then gave her home crowd what they wanted by defeating France's Tatiana Golovin 6-4 6-3.

Clijsters is playing her final Belgian event before retiring later in 2007.

"Tomorrow will be a very emotional day and I am just glad that I am still here to enjoy it and am in the final," said Clijsters.

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World number three Mauresmo is looking to find some form after a slow start to the year.

She broke Chakvetadze's serve in game seven on her way to securing the first set but the 19-year-old Russian fought back to take the second set after an early break.

Mauresmo then moved up a gear in the decider to claim her second win over Chakvetadze in a week, following their quarter-final in Paris last week.

But there were worrying signs for the Wimbledon champion, who seemed to be carrying a leg injury in the final set.

"I didn't return well, I had too many ups and downs," said Mauresmo. "I was really going forward to take control of the match."

She had an extra incentive to reach the final, however, as she can claim a diamond-studded racquet awarded for three title wins in five years having also won in 2005 and 2006.

The racquet is made of five kilos of gold, with 1,900 diamonds totalling 240 carats.

"I would be lying if I said it was not a dream prize," said Mauresmo. "Every match I win, it is starting to be a little bit more on my mind, but the final will be the toughest one to win."

Clijsters said: "It will be a very special match.

"Amelie is playing for the fabulous racquet and, as far as I'm concerned, I just want to thank all of my fans by giving them one last success in Belgium."

"I just want to thank all of my fans by giving them one last success in Belgium, said Kim"
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Clijsters reaches Antwerp semis

Belgian Kim Clijsters celebrates after defeating Serbian Ana Ivanovic during their quarter final match at the Proximus Diamond Games WTA tennis tournament in Antwerp, 16 February 2007. Clijsters defeated Ivanovic 6-2, 6-1 and qualify herself for the half-final.

Second seed Kim Clijsters cruised into the semi-finals of the Diamond Games in Antwerp with a 6-2 6-1 thrashing of Serbian eighth seed Ana Ivanovic.

The Belgian, in her final tournament on home soil before she retires at the end of the year, now meets Tatiana Golovin who beat Elena Likhovtseva 7-6 7-5.

Russia's Anna Chakvetadze upset in-form third seed Nadia Petrova 6-3 6-4 to set up a semi-final with Amelie Mauresmo.

Top seed Mauresmo of France beat Russian Dinara Safina 6-1 6-3.

I am just focusing on each day and each game, Kim said.

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The 19-year-old Chakvetadze has already won the Hobart title this year and made the last eight at the Australian Open.

"I am starting to play better and better," said Mauresmo. "So many things fit together now."

If she wins her next two matches, Mauresmo will finally be able to claim the racquet trophy which goes to the first player to win the tournament three times in any five-year span.

"It will be good to get to the final and then we will see," she said. "The opposition is of such quality that I cannot look beyond that."

Speaking after her win, Clijsters said: "I was hoping it would not be the last time. I'm so happy I can continue tomorrow.

"I feel good and the crowd again were terrific. It's such a great feeling out there.

"But I am just focusing on each day and each game. Hopefully I can make it through to the final on Sunday."
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Clijsters wins Diamond Games opener

Belgian Kim Clijsters celebrates after wining the second round match of the Proximus Diamond Games WTA tennis tournament against Russian Olga Poutchkova in Antwerp, 14 February 2007. Clijster won 6-0, 6-2.

ANTWERP, Belgium -- Kim Clijsters won the first match of her last home tournament Wednesday, beating Olga Poutchkova 6-0, 6-2 to advance into the quarterfinals of the Diamond Games.

Despite a recent recovery from the flu and a sore hip, the second-seeded Belgian won easily and enjoyed a standing ovation from the 10,000-strong crowd at the Sports Palace.

"It is so nice when everyone is backing you like that," said Clijsters, who grew up near the venue.

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Despite her youth, the 23-year-old Clijsters said she will retire at the end of the year. She wants to start a family and has seen her playing time shortened by injury.

She did not want the incessant cheers Wednesday to sound like a goodbye, though.

"I'll be back on Friday, and I hope it will not be my last match," Clijsters said.

Earlier, Tatiana Golovin of France upset fifth-seeded Patty Schnyder 6-7 (2) 7-6 (5) 6-2 and joined Clijsters in the quarterfinals. Eighth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Anastasiya Yakimova 6-3, 6-2.

Anna Chakvetadze of Russia rallied to beat Sybille Bammer 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Bammer was playing her third match in four days. The Austrian won the Pattaya Open on Sunday and then played in the first round in Antwerp on Tuesday.

Bammer still fought off five match points before finally giving in to fatigue and her opponent.

Two-time defending champion Amelie Mauresmo opens her campaign for the diamond racket trophy on Thursday. If the top-seeded Frenchwoman wins the tournament this week, she will get to keep the gold- and gem-encrusted racket.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
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Tennis star named UN ambassador

Ms Sharapova said she was delighted with her new role

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has been named as a goodwill ambassador for the UN development agency, UNDP.

The 19-year-old will focus on projects dealing with the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Signed on for a symbolic $1 (51 pence) the world's top-ranked female player said it was "one of my proudest contracts ever".

Ms Sharapova immediately gave $100,000 to projects tackling the world's worst nuclear accident.

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Personal connection

She explained that the issues were important to her as she had a personal connection with the area.

After the accident and just before she was born, Ms Sharapova's father and pregnant mother fled from the Belarussian city of Gomel, some 80 miles (128km) north of Chernobyl.

They went to Siberia where their daughter was born in 1987.

"That's why it means so much to me to be a part of this project because I was sort of part of it as well. I hope that I can go there on field trips," Ms Sharapova said.

She added that she was more nervous about this new role than before a Grand Slam tournament.

The tennis pro has set up a private foundation which will channel funds into eight projects in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

The World Health Organisation estimates that some 9,300 people will die from cancers caused by Chernobyl's radiation.
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Petrova reaches Antwerp quarters

Russian Nadia Petrova shows a clinched fist after defeating compatriot Vera Zvonareva during their second round match at the Proximus Diamond Games WTA tennis tournament in Antwerp, 15 February 2007.

Third seed Nadia Petrova beat fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Diamond Games in Antwerp.

Petrova, who is going for back-to-back titles after winning in Paris last week, will next meet compatriot and seventh seed Anna Chakvetadze.

Elena Likhovtseva progressed when fourth seed Elena Dementieva withdrew because of illness trailing 6-2 1-1.

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo plays Virginie Razzano later on Thursday.

Petrova claims Paris Open title

Russia's Nadia Petrova holds her trophy after winning over Czech Lucie Safarova at the end of their WTA Paris Indoor Open tennis final match, 11 February 2007 at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium. Petrova won the final 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Nadia Petrova came from a set and a break down to beat Czech player Lucie Safarova in the Paris Open final.

The Russian won 4-6 6-1 6-4 against Safarova, who beat Svetlana Kuznetsova and ex-world number one Justine Henin on her way to the final.

Unseeded Safarova, 20, took the first set in 30 minutes and broke to go 1-0 up in the second.

But Petrova then won six games in a row to win the second set and broke twice in the third set to clinch victory.

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The world number seven took one hour and 48 minutes and four match points to earn her seventh career title.

"Lucie's level at the beginning was very high and there was nothing I could do about it," 24-year-old Petrova acknowledged.

"She played unbelievable tennis and I was struggling a bit on my second serve.

"As soon as I started hitting more balls in, she made more unforced errors"

"I changed a little bit the way I was playing because in the beginning I was building the points in the wrong way.

"I was playing the ball up the lines and giving her too many angles so I just went back to basics.

"As soon as I started hitting more balls in she made more unforced errors and that got me fully into the game."

Safarova, who is currently the world number 32, will equal her highest-ever ranking when she moves up to 26 on the back of her run in Paris.

"I beat players that I dreamed about beating so it would not be right to be sad because this has opened the way for the next tournaments," she said.

Her next tournament will have to wait, however, as the Czech player has pulled out of next week's Antwerp Open with a shoulder injury.
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Petrova powers into Paris quarter-finals

Russian's Nadia Petrova returns a forehand to her German opponent Martina Muller at Paris WTA Open. Petrova won 6-1, 6-2.

PARIS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Russian Nadia Petrova made light work of Germany's Martina Muller to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Open with a merciless 6-1 6-2 victory on Thursday.

Fourth seed Petrova, who will play compatriot Dinara Safina for a place in the last four, wrapped up a straightforward win in 51 minutes.

The world number seven, who beat Safina in their two previous meetings, built her success on a highly reliable serve and broke her opponent four times.

Earlier on Thursday, Russian Anna Chakvetadze recovered from a shaky start to reach the last eight with a 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory over Spaniard Anabel Medina.

Eighth seed Chakvetadze will next play either holder Amelie Mauresmo or Nathalie Dechy, who meet in an all-French second round clash later on Thursday.

Medina converted one of her two break points to edge the first set but Chakvetadze's efficient groundstrokes eventually saw the Russian through after two hours and nine minutes.

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The Russian showed no signs of her loss to Serena a few weeks ago, winning 90% of her first serve points; an amazing ratio for a big server such as herself.

She only faced one break point throughout the match, and saved it with ease. Nadia was even better on break point conversions, winning 4 of 6 of the break points she faced.

Nadia’s next match will be against Russian compatriot Dinara Safina. This is definately a more difficult match for Nadia, who really hasn’t played too many top players as of yet. However, if Nadia keeps up her consistent first serves, and keeps the errors to a minimum, she just may bury Safina before the match even begins. I see Nadia winning in 2-3 sets. She’ll have to be in control of her emotions, or at least be in better control than the often emotionally unstable sister of the emotionally unstable Marat Safin. If that intangeble alone is in Nadia’s favor, I see her marching into the semis, where she’ll most likely play HUGE crowd favorite, Amelie Mauresmo.

Unfortunately, Nadia will be unable to move up in the rankings, even if she wins. However, the better she does here, the closer the gap will be between her and Swiss Miss Martina Hingis.

A good showing here would pave the way for her return to the top 5. All in all, a great match by Nadia to beat Muller, and here’s hoping for an even better pummling against Safina!!
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Mauresmo marches through in Paris

France's Amelie Mauresmo chats with her coach Loic Courteau during her WTA Paris Open tennis match against her French opponent Nathalie Dechy in Paris. Mauresmo won 6-3, 6-2. Players have mixed feelings about the WTA's latest experiment with coaches, aimed at spicing up the game for spectators. For several months, the WTA has allowed players to call on their coaches during matches. But while some have taken to the new initiative, others have steadfastly blanked it.

Amelie Mauresmo came through an all-French encounter against Nathalie Dechy 6-3 6-3 to keep her title defence at the Paris Indoor Open on track.

The second seed dominated Dechy and wrapped up victory in one hour and 22 minutes to set up a quarter-final with Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

"I haven't played much these last few months so I'm trying to put things back in place," Mauresmo said.

"I don't think it will take too long because I feel good physically."

Chakvetadze set up a meeting with Mauresmo by defeating Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 4-6 6-4 6-4.

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"It is going to be hard for me, in front of the French crowd," Chakvetadze.

"But I do not fear anyone and I think it is going to be great tennis."

Fourth seed Nadia Petrova had few problems easing into the last eight with a 6-1 6-2 win over Germany's Martina Muller. She will now face compatriot Dinara Safina.

Petrova said: "I did not play that well but this win will give me confidence for the next match."

There was more cheer for the home fans in the French capital as Tatiana Golovin beat Ekaterina Bychkova 6-4 6-4 to advance.

The Russian-born 19-year-old now meets Justine Henin next but Golovin said: "I've always played well here and I just have to take my chances."

Czech Lucie Safarova completed the quarter-final line up with a 6-4 6-2 victory over compatriot and fifth seed Nicole Vaidisova.

Safarova faces third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in her next match.
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Henin through after early jitters

Belgium's Justine Henin returns a backhand to her French opponent Emilie Loit during their WTA Paris Open match in Paris.

Top seed Justine Henin came from a set down to beat Emilie Loit in the second round of the Paris Open on Wednesday.

Looking rusty in her first match since November, Henin was unable to stop her French opponent taking the first set.

But the world number two found her form after that and claimed the second set with a wonderful drop volley before cruising through the decider.

Henin served 14 aces in total to complete a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory and secure a place in the quarter-finals.

"In the first set I just wasn't playing. I didn't take the initiative," said Henin. "I waited a while and then my level rose. I was very happy after that.

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"I played the first set on the defensive without being positive but then I started volleying more and hitting more to her backhand.

"But I didn't move well and was a lot slower around the court than before."

Seventh seed Dinara Safina joined Henin in the last eight after a marathon battle against Frenchwoman Camille Pin.

The Russian served seven aces but also had eight double faults in her 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7-5) win, a contest lasting two and a quarter hours.

Safina admitted it had been a physical struggle, saying afterwards: "Honestly, I had cramps in my hands but I tried not to show it. I felt like the Road Runner out there on court.

"At times I had to prise my fingers open, I was just glad it didn't go deeper because the problem is when it goes to your legs."
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Hingis races to record fifth Tokyo title

Switzerland's Martina Hingis holds up the winner's trophy during an awarding ceremony after the final match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in Tokyo 04 February 2007.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Former world number one Martina Hingis thrashed Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-2 to win a record fifth Pan Pacific Open title on Sunday.

The Swiss second seed completely outclassed Ivanovic, wrapping up a one-sided final in 71 minutes to capture her third singles title since returning full-time to the WTA Tour in 2006.

"Winning (tournaments) is twice as sweet this time around definitely," Hingis told reporters. "It used to be so normal for me in 1997 and 1998.

"I never thought I'd have the chance to win tournaments again. This time it feels like I really deserve it. I'm more proud this time round."

It was also a 43rd career singles title for Hingis, who previously won in Tokyo in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002 and was a losing finalist on three other occasions.

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Hingis won five grand slam singles titles between 1997 and 1999 before quitting the game at the end of 2002 due to nagging foot and ankle trouble.

CLEVER ANGLES

Ivanovic had beaten Hingis in Montreal last year in their only other meeting, but the fifth seed had no answer to Hingis's unerring precision and clever use of angles.

Hingis, who reached the quarter-finals of last month's Australian Open, is set to remain at number six when the new world rankings are released on Monday.

"Hopefully I can be more successful this year," said the 26-year-old, who raised a few eyebrows when she suggested she would use her trophy as a sushi dish at her home.

"This year I want to prove myself even more. I have to keep improving if I'm going to survive in the game today."

Hingis earned $182,000 for her victory. She is currently fourth in the WTA's all-time list of women's prize money winners with just under $20 million.

Ivanovic, who reached the final after world number one Maria Sharapova retired in their semi-final with a hamstring injury, is projected to rise to 14th in the new rankings.

"It didn't feel good really," shrugged the 19-year-old from Belgrade. "But it was great to be in a final against Martina. She just played an unbelievable match."
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Hingis beats Dementieva to face Ivanovic in tennis final

Switzerland's Martina Hingis returns the ball against Russia's Elena Dementieva during their semi-final match at the Pan Pacific Open tournament in Tokyo. Hingis beat Dementieva 6-4, 6-3.(AFP/Toshifumi Kitamura).

TOKYO (AFP) - Former world number one Martina Hingis has beaten defending champion Elena Dementieva for a place in the final of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament against Ana Ivanovic.
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The Swiss second seed, seeking a record fifth Tokyo indoor title this week, avenged her loss in last year's final with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the Russian third seed.

Ivanovic, the fifth seed from Serbia, received a free ticket to the final after current world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia pulled out of her semi-final match with a left hamstring injury at 6-1, 0-1.

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"I know I'm playing 10 occasions and it's my eighth appearance in the finals and the chance to make it a record five, so of course I'm excited about it. I'm gonna play my best possible tennis tomorrow against Ana," said Hingis.

Hingis attacked Dementieva's backhand side and chalked up a 5-1 lead in first set. She was never in danger afterwards, forcing a break in the eighth game of the second set and wrapping up the win in 70 minutes.

"That's my strategy for most of the time," Hingis said of her attack on Dementieva's backhand -- because I feel like my backhand is a stronger part. "She also hit a lot of backhand cross-court rallies. I also tried to change up to go down the line. It's definitely my big weapon, my backhand cross court."

Dementieva said: "She was solid. She was very consistent during the whole game, playing very smart as usual.

"I think I didn't play my best. I made too many unforced errors. I just didn't take an advantage of short balls to come to finish the points. I think she was better by playing a lot of rallies," she added.

Ivanovic, who had beaten her compatriot and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic in three sets on Friday, said her victory over the injured Sharapova was not a good way to win a match.

"From the beginning of the match, I didn't notice anything, because she was moving pretty well and also serving OK," said the Serbian.

"I was really surprised that at the end of the set she called a physician and straight away retired. It was surprising that she had a problem."

Ivanovic added: "It's never nice to win the match that way. I felt pretty confident and I was happy that each match I played better and my serve was working really well -- that's very important to play against top players.

"I also think I was moving pretty well on the court and I was very aggressive, which is very important to play against Maria, not to give any time, and I was pretty happy with my performance today."

Sharapova said: "It's always disappointing to end a tournament that way. I definitely tried to find the way, hoping the pain was settled and would get better. That's why I tried to play the first set."
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Sharapova Pulls Out of Pan Pacific Open

Top-seeded Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova (L) receives a massage from a trainer during her semi-final match against Ana Ivanovic of Servia in the Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament in Tokyo, 03 February 2007. Sharapova retired from the match due to injury after 1-6, 0-1.

Top-ranked Maria Sharapova retired during the second set of her Pan Pacific Open semifinal against Ana Ivanovic on Saturday because of a hamstring injury.

After dropping the first set 6-1, the Russian star consulted with her trainer. She won the first game of the second set before retiring.

'It's disappointing to have to finish this way,' Sharapova said. 'I started to feel pain in the second game of the first set. I tried to go on, but you can't get away with it when you are playing against a top player.'

Fifth-seeded Ivanovic of Serbia will face second-seeded Martina Hingis in the final on Sunday.

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Hingis posted a 6-4, 6-3 win over defending champion Elena Dementieva of Russia.

Sharapova, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the WTA Tour rankings on Monday, lost to Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open.

The Russian had 17 double-faults in her first match against Italy's Francesca Schiavone and double-faulted 14 times Friday in the quarterfinals against Japan's Ai Sugiyama. Sharapova refused to blame the injury on her schedule.

'I have a simple and easy schedule compared to the other girls,' she said. 'There's no doubt its difficult when you come straight from a Grand Slam. The surface here is quite different and the change in court might have something to do with it.'

Sharapova said her trainer told her she would likely need about a week to recover.

'I didn't have pain like this during the Australian Open,' added Sharapova. 'This is like a sudden, sharper pain I felt when I landed on the serve.'

In Saturday's second semifinal, Hingis raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first set.

'It was a great start for me in the beginning,' Hingis said. 'I had a bad experience last year when I lost to her in the final so I was happy to get a little revenge today.'

Hingis has won this tournament four times and will be looking to set a tournament record on Sunday.

'I share the record for most wins here with Lindsay Davenport and hopefully can set the record tomorrow,' said Hingis. 'It will be a tough match. Ana has played well all week but I'm looking forward to it.'

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Maria Sharapova entered the Family Circle Cup

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning a point during her fourth round match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia on day eight of the Australian Open 2007 at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia.

Maria Sharapova, the most recognizable and highest paid female athlete in the world, has officially entered the 2007 Family Circle Cup.

At only nineteen years old, this two-time Grand Slam champion returns to Charleston with stellar career marks including 15 singles titles, a 239-56 win-loss record and over $9 million in winnings. Yesterday she regained the World No. 1 ranking, marking the 8th week in her career that she has held the top spot in women’s professional tennis. Since computer rankings were started in 1973, only 15 women have achieved the status of World No. 1 on the women’s professional tennis tour.

This year, the Family Circle Cup is proud to feature four members of that elite club who will be joining a host of other top players battling for one of the most coveted trophies in women’s tennis. With the addition of World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, this year’s Family Circle Cup player field now boasts four of the top five players in the world including Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

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“Maria is one of the most sought-after players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and her commitment to play this event takes the Family Circle Cup to a whole new level,” commented Robin Reynolds, Family Circle Cup Tournament Director. “Not only is she the world’s top female player, but Maria is also a celebrity that transcends tennis, and we are very pleased that she’ll be here in April.”

“I have very pleasant memories of my trip to Charleston four years ago and I’m looking forward to playing in the tournament and enjoying some time in the city,” noted reigning US Open Champion / World No. 1 player Maria Sharapova. “The Family Circle Cup has a great reputation on the Tour, especially with the players, so I’m excited to be coming back and starting my clay court season at such a wonderful event.”

Maria Sharapova first competed in the Family Circle Cup as a World No. 167 ranked qualifier in 2003 where she reached the first round of the main draw. Her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour victory came later that year at the Japan Open, then another in Quebec City, which propelled her through the rankings to finish at No. 32 in the world.

Sharapova thrust herself onto a world stage in 2004 when she claimed her first major title as the second youngest ladies champion in the open era at Wimbledon, then won the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships leading to a year-end career-high No. 4 ranking. She also received two major awards that year including the WTA Tour’s “Player of the Year” and “Most Improved Player of the Year”.

She repeated as the World’s No. 4 player in 2005 by reaching the quarterfinals or better in all 15 events in which she competed (including all four Grand Slams), winning three finals including her first Tier I title at Tokyo (Pan Pacific), reaching the semifinals of the Tour Championships, and becoming the 15th player in history to appear at the No. 1 spot which she held for a total of 7 weeks that year.

Sharapova’s best year to date came in 2006 as she earned a year-end World No. 2 ranking by reaching the semifinals or better in 13 of 15 starts, claiming 5 titles including three Tier I events and her second major at the US Open, and completed a 19-match win streak with a semifinal appearance at the Tour Championships. Her 59 match wins (second best in 2006) helped her to surpass the 200 career victory mark as she became the highest-earning Russian in Tour history, in addition to being named the Whirlpool “6th Sense Player of the Year”.

In addition to her many on-court tennis accolades, Maria Sharapova has become a worldwide celebrity who has appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated & ESPN magazines, was listed in Forbes magazine as one of the richest female athletes in the world, and was highlighted as one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People. She has also appeared in several other magazines including Vogue Italia, W, YM, Sport (as one of the Athletes to Watch Out for in the 21st Century), and Teen People (as one of 20 Teens Who Will Change the World), as well as other major publications such as USA Today. Sharapova has made appearances on numerous television shows such as NBC’s Today and Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live with Regis and Kelly, Inside Edition, ESPN’s Sportscenter and Cold Pizza, Fox and Friends, CBS’s Early Show and Craig Kilborn, MTV’s TRL, Access Hollywood and the Tour’s Magazine Show, among others.
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Sharapova sets sights on French Open

Russia's Maria Sharapova speaks during a news conference ahead of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo January 30, 2007. REUTERS/Issei Kato.

TOKYO (Reuters) - What do you give a woman who is flying high on top of the world? If that woman is Maria Sharapova, it would be a French Open crown.

With Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles already tucked away in her locker, the Russian world number one is targeting victory in Paris this year following her return to the top of the rankings this week.

"Probably one of the biggest challenges is going to be the French for me," the 19-year-old told Reuters on Tuesday. "It's a challenge I'm really looking forward to."

"I had a terrible claycourt season last year because of injury. I shouldn't even have been at the French Open, but I tried.

"But I feel like I can do it this year. I'm definitely looking forward to it."

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Sharapova, in Tokyo for this week's Pan Pacific Open tournament, lost in the fourth round at Roland Garros last year after two months out with a foot injury.

She finished 2006 by winning a first U.S. Open title and has just replaced Belgium's Justine Henin at the top of the WTA rankings despite her 6-1 6-2 thrashing by Serena Williams in the Australian Open final at the weekend.

"Second time around it's a little different," shrugged Sharapova, who first reached the summit of the women's game in August 2005.

"When you first become number one it's more of a thrill and you sort of think about it a little more. But it's not something I worry about too much."

"Obviously it's very important and it's a dream for every young girl and boy practising and growing up," she added.

"I think when you've already been there... all you try to do is win matches and the more you win, the better situation you're going to be in to stay number one."

BRUISING DEFEAT

Her bruising defeat to Williams in Melbourne may have taken some of the gloss off her return to the top of the rankings, but Sharapova dismissed it as a bad day at the office.

"There are going to be a lot of days in my career like that where it's going to be an off day for me and you're going to run into someone playing their best tennis," she said.

"That was just one of those days. Losing is never fun but it's part of what I do. I'm not always going to be winning."

Since destroying Williams to win the 2004 Wimbledon final as a 17-year-old, Sharapova has been the biggest draw in the women's game.

"On a daily basis I get random reminders of what I've achieved and you look back and think how quick everything has happened," she said in an interview arranged by WTA Tour sponsors Sony Ericsson.

"Last year I came to Tokyo and I remember people asking me if I was going to win another slam. It was kind of funny because I just came from losing to Justine in three (sets) in the semi-finals in Australia."

Sharapova added: "I said 'It's going to take time, it's going to take time'. Then I won the U.S. Open and I just got to the final of another one (grand slam). There's always going to be your moments to shine."
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New No. 1 Sharapova not celebrating

Maria Sharapova, who will displace Henin-Hardenne officially as No. 1 on Monday, couldn’t find a way to prevent Serena Williams from winning her eighth slam title in the Australian Open.

MELBOURNE, Australia - This was not how Maria Sharapova wanted to celebrate her elevation to No. 1 in the rankings: sitting on a plane to Tokyo on Sunday after being on the receiving end of one of the most lopsided results in a Grand Slam final.

The Sharapova that looked so dominant while winning last year’s U.S. Open in straight sets over Justine Henin-Hardenne had no answers Saturday against a resurgent Serena Williams in the Australian Open, losing 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

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“I was trying to find a way to get in the rallies, trying somehow to find a way to get an opening, through a door,” Sharapova said. “She came out and she really played flawless tennis.

“I wasn’t getting frustrated or anything,” she added. “I was just trying to tell myself, you can always find a way even if you’re down a set and two breaks.”

Sharapova, who will displace Henin-Hardenne officially as No. 1 on Monday, couldn’t find a way to prevent Williams from winning her eighth singles major. Sharapova is six Grand Slams behind, having beaten Williams in the final at Wimbledon in 2004 and winning last year’s U.S. Open title.

“Two completely different stages of my career,” Sharapova said when asked to compare her win over Williams at the All-England Club more than two years ago and Saturday’s loss at Rod Laver Arena.

“At Wimbledon, I was going into every single match thinking that I should have been home already. As years have gone on, I feel like I expect to be in the later stages of the tournaments. I expect myself to be winning.”

Sharapova, who turns 20 in April, started this year in Hong Kong, where she lost in the final of an exhibition tournament to Kim Clijsters. She beat Clijsters in the semifinals here.

She’ll move from the hardcourts at Melbourne Park to the indoor carpet at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where the other entrants this week include Martina Hingis and Serbian teenager Jelena Jankovic.

There, Sharapova will heed the advice of her mother, Yelena.

“Unfortunately it was my mom’s birthday and I couldn’t win for her,” Sharapova said. “She always tells me, ’Look, you got a tournament next week. You got to focus on that ... you’re going to look back on this and say this really taught me something, this only made me stronger.”’

Her performance in Grand Slams last year helped raise her ranking from fourth at the start of 2006 to No. 2 at the end. She reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and the fourth round at the French Open before her win at Flushing Meadows.

She’s done one better at the Australian Open already this year, allowing the ever-upbeat Sharapova to take a positive away from Melbourne.

“It’s definitely not the end of the world,” she said. “Got to the final of my first tournament this year. There’s a lot to be proud of.”

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated: 2:59 a.m. ET Jan. 28, 2007
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Williams cruises to victory in Aussie final

Serena Williams captured her third Australian Open title. (WILLIAM WEST/AFP / Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Serena Williams answered her critics with an overpowering victory in the Australian Open final.

Unseeded and ranked 81st, Williams won for her eighth and most improbable Grand Slam title Saturday, beating Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2.

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"It was an awesome win, because I had so many critics. So many people ... saying negative things," Williams said. "Saying I wasn't fit, when I felt that I was really fit, and I could last three sets.

"It's always like, tell me no and I'll show you that I can do it. I get the greatest satisfaction just holding up the Grand Slam trophy and proving everyone wrong."

Only the second unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the Open era, Williams came to Melbourne Park with only three matches at a low-key warmup tournament after missing most of last season because of a knee injury.

She will jump to No. 14 in the world next week after capturing her first title in 15 tournaments since her second Australian Open victory in 2005.

Despite doubts about her fitness, Williams thought she was in great shape.

"I have been working really hard and haven't felt like my results have been showing," she said. "And finally it just all came together, especially in the final match."

The victory was the most dominating win in a completed championship match at Melbourne Park since Steffi Graf beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-0, 6-2 in 1994.

"This definitely goes down as one of my good matches. I'm insatiable," Williams said. "I think I could have done better. That's just my character."

She finished off the top-seeded Sharapova with a backhand winner, then threw her racket in the air and dropped onto her back on the court.

The 25-year-old American, also the 2003 champion, got up and skipped over to the side of the court, swapping high-fives with mother Oracene Price and other people in the stands before jogging back onto court with her arms up in triumph.

Williams dedicated the title to her half-sister, Yetunde Price, who was killed in a 2003 shooting.

"Most of all I would like to dedicate this win to my sister, who's not here. Her name is Yetunde. I just love her so much," she said, her voice cracking. "I'll try not to get teary-eyed but I said a couple of days ago, if I win this it's going to be for her. So thanks Tunde."

Chris O'Neill, who was ranked No. 111 when she won the 1978 title, was the only other unseeded woman to win the Australian Open.

Sharapova had no answers for Williams' power in her worst loss in a Grand Slam event.

"You can never underestimate her as a performer. ... I know what she's capable of and she showed that today," said Sharapova, who will assume the No. 1 ranking from Justine Henin. "She has showed it many, many times.

Williams saved match points in her semifinal win over Sharapova here two years ago before beating Lindsay Davenport in the final.

She started aggressively and never relented in the kind of form that helped her dominate women's tennis as she completed the "Serena Slam" with four consecutive majors up to the 2003 Australian Open.

She held to open and then won 12 straight points after Sharapova had a game point in the next to jump to a 4-0 lead. Williams saved a break point in the fifth game before Sharapova held at love to make it 5-1.

Williams served out, taking the first set in 26 minutes on her second set point when Sharapova sent a backhand service return wide.

The American broke Sharapova's serve and resolve again to open the second set, then had consecutive double-faults to give the 19-year-old Russian a break point chance in the next game. In a manner typical of her determined performance Saturday, Williams fired an ace to save the break point and held on back-to-back errors by Sharapova.

Williams led 4-0 before Sharapova held again, avoiding the most lopsided women's final ever in the Australian Open.

Serving for the match, Williams fired two aces to earn triple match point, then finished it off in 1 hour, 3 minutes with the backhand winner.

With occasional showers and a strong wind outside, the roof was closed on packed Rod Laver Arena.

Williams missed nine tournaments immediately after losing in the third round at the Australian Open last year and played only 16 matches in 2006, when she slumped as low as No. 140 in the rankings.

Her win over No. 5 Nadia Petrova in the third round this time was her first over a top-10 player since she won the 2005 tournament.

Sharapova came into the match on a 13-match winning streak in Grand Slams, having won the U.S. Open in September. After winning her first-round match in three sets, Sharapova didn't drop a set in five rounds before the final.

In the men's final Sunday, top-ranked Roger Federer will face Grand Slam final newcomer Fernando Gonzalez in a bid for his 10th major title.

Gonzalez overpowered Tommy Haas 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals Friday, a night after Federer beat No. 6 Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

"He's the No. 1 player in the world by far. ... I lost many times with him," Gonzalez said. "But now I'm playing much better than the last time we played. And it's only one match. I'm going to give everything that I have to try to win my first Slam."

Gonzalez is 0-9 against Federer, who has won nine of his 10 major finals.

Federer's victory over Roddick put him into a seventh consecutive Grand Slam final, tying a record set in 1934 by Jack Crawford.

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Serena's performance a blast from the past

Serena Williams polished off Maria Sharapova in 63 minutes. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, Australia - The charismatic Serena Williams has always been a bit of an enigma on court and off, but her personal struggles over the past three years have been as normal as anyone's who has lost a sibling.

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Career often came second, because the tennis superstar hadn't come to terms yet with the murder of her half-sister Yetunde Price, in Compton, California, in the fall of 2003.

For the most part since then, Williams' game had significantly fallen off and it wasn't until the 2007 Australian Open that Serena had processed her sister's death enough to be able to come back on court and display her heavenly form.

"That really affected Serena," said her mother Oracene Price, after her daughter put on one of the most eye-popping devastations of a top-ranked player in a Grand Slam final with her 6-1, 6-2 blowout of No. 1 Maria Sharapova. "She knew it was necessary to go through the struggle. She knew she had something in her and she had to find her heart again."

There's no doubting Serena's heart any more, neither the size of her commitment nor her ability to beat the best when she's on.

She came into the Australian Open having played only four tournaments is 2006 and one warmup tournament in Hobart, where she admitted that rust was dripping off her racket.

But by the time she arrived in Melbourne, she had her game face on — and no player on tour can stare down an opponent with the ferocity that Serena summons.

Sharapova was thunderstruck as she was completely dismantled from the first toss of the ball. She could never work the points, because Serena thundered down ace after service winner, return-of-serve winner after quick-fisted groundstroke winner. She put so much pressure on the 19-year-old Russian that by the end of the first set, the normally composed Sharapova had lost all sense of where she should go with the ball.

Williams didn't allow the gritty top seed a fight. She knocked her out quickly and mercilessly, never allowing Sharapova any breathing room in the contest.

Serena launched 28 winners and committed only 11 unforced errors, breaking her opponent four times. She only faced two break points (Sharapova committed an unforced error on one) and Serena boomed one ace after another.

"She played flawless tennis," Sharapova said.

In a match that featured only a handful of extended rallies, Williams was completely locked into the proverbial zone and literally silenced the crowd, which sat dumbfounded at her display of near-perfect tennis.

"She smoked her,'" said Serena's hitting partner, Mark Hiawaly. "It was unbelievable. She's serving bigger than in the past, she hitting some around 200 KMH and is serving very accurate. She took away time from Maria by standing inside the court and fending off the pace. Whenever she moves forward, that's when she's playing her best."

Serena's third Australian crown is her eighth Grand Slam title overall and puts the great Monica Seles and her nine major titles squarely in sight. Out of shape both emotionally and physically last year, it appeared as if the 25-year-old might get stuck on seven and never regain the fire that saw her win four straight majors in 2002 and 2003.

But Oracene believed there would come a time when Serena rediscovered her desire. She also knew that it would take a significant amount of healing before she got her champion's mettle back.

"It's just like losing weight, you have to get your head there," Oracene said. "If your head is not there, you are not going to do it and then you have to stay there. When your kids are young, you guide them, and when they get older, they have to do it themselves."

Oracene is the butt-kicker of two parents, leaving it to her ex-husband, Richard, to be the back-patter. When she's coaching Serena, her daughter knows that she'll get no quarter if she isn't performing up to snuff. The two fought in practice during their trip Down Under, and after Serena raised the Aussie Open trophy for the third time, she apologized to her mom.

"I yelled at her," Serena said. "I was a bad student and said things under my breath, but she just kept coming."

Oracene is quite supportive off court, but she can't stand it when she feels like her daughter is playing lazy. When she puts her coach's hat on, poor positioning and lousy footwork isn't tolerated. But she knew that if Serena was to win the title, she had to push her hard.

"She really gets pissed at me and she just leaves where I am and goes to another side of the court," Oracene said. "I needed to get her to a point where her game used to be and to get her to move. I did, and then she got blisters and that was another struggle. It was a constant struggle all week."

But there were no doubts in the Williams camp before the final. Serena spent Friday night watching Chilean Fernando Gonzalez thrash Tommy Haas in the men's semis and was admiring his focus and incredible consistency. Before Serena went on court against Sharapova, who had shocked her back at the 2004 Wimbledon final and is the reigning U.S. Open champion, Oracene could sense that she was super-focused.

"I just told her to play the game that she had before she left," Oracene said.

That's what she did. Now Serena will shoot up the rankings to No. 14 and regardless of how much she plays this season, if she shows up at a Slam healthy, she'll be a favorite.

The ultra-confident Williams realizes that's the case, but before she ran off with her third trophy, she opened up her heart and made a tearful dedication to her dearly departed sister.

"A couple of days ago I said I'm going to win this for her, so thanks, Yetunde," Serena said.

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Maria takes strength

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day eleven of the Australian Open 2007.

Friday, 26 January, 2007

Women's No.1 seed Maria Sharapova believes her early hurdle on the way to this year's Australian Open final has set her in good stead to raise a second consecutive Grand Slam trophy on Day 13.

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After teetering two points away from an early exit during her first round battle with diminutive Frenchwoman Camille Pin in the roaring Melbourne heat, the Russian has left the rest of her opponents in her wake, failing to drop another set, on her way through to the final.

Speaking a day before squaring off against comeback queen and world No.81 Serena Williams in the final on the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park, Sharapova said she feels ready to conquer the last hurdle.

"It [my path to the final] has been good and bad in a way. Because I feel like I got through my first round in a very tough way," she said.

"When you get through a match like that you're not sure if you're going to be physically ready to compete at the best level."

"Fortunately I was able to recover well and get through to the next match."

However, despite breezing through her remaining matches on the way to her first final Down Under, Sharapova says she is yet to play at the top of her game.

"I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis [in the early rounds]," she said.

"I felt like against Kim [Clijsters in the semi-finals] it was a little bit of a turnaround."

"I felt a lot better out there and felt like I did the right things at the right time and played good tennis, which gives me a lot of confidence going into the final."

Boasting an undefeated record in her two appearances in Grand Slam finals, the Russian world No.1 also says nerves will not get the better of her when she squares off against Williams.

"I've been in two [finals] before, so no [I won't be nervous]," she said. "I mean, it's normal to realize that you are in a Grand Slam final. It's normal to have butterflies. Unless you're a robot, you know, just it's absolutely normal."

"But I think it's the way you handle it, the way you go about it on the court tomorrow."

Wary of the fact that Williams, a two-time former winner at Melbourne Park, will head into the match as the supreme underdog, Sharapova says she is focusing more on her own game than that of her opponent.

"I've seen bits and pieces of some of her matches, you know, but I've played her enough times to know her strengths and weaknesses," she added.

"At the end of the day it's not about my opponent, it's about me."

While admitting that Williams' remarkable comeback makes her something of an unknown quantity, Sharapova says she will be out to stamp her own authority on the match early.

However, the top seed and reigning US Open champion says she will need to stay focused the whole way through if she is to raise the trophy at Melbourne Park this year.

"I think the finish is going to be a lot more important than the start, to be honest. I'd rather have a terrible start and win the match than have a great start and lose it," said Sharapova.

"With any opponent - it doesn't matter who it is, first round or final or anyone I play - it's always important to let them know that you're there from the beginning of the match."

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Serena and Maria centre stage on Day 13

Maria Sharapova of Russia shows her frustration during her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters

Friday, 26 January, 2007.
With their head-to-head ledger locked at 2-2, Russian No.1 seed Maria Sharapova and two-time champion Serena Williams look set for a battle royal in Day 13's women's singles final at Australian Open 2007.
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They may have reached the decider in contrasting fashion, with Sharapova looking by far the more impressive as she has improved with each outing, but Williams has had to dig deeper throughout to stay alive and is now match-hardened.

Her chances of reaching the final and a chance at a third Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy may have been doubted by many before the tournament began, but 2003 and 2005 champion Williams has taken much delight in proving her detractors wrong.

But to take the final step and actually break through for her first title win since her last Melbourne Park triumph a couple of years ago, Williams will have to step her game up another level against her younger, fitter rival.

Sharapova looked headed for a first-round exit when she came within two points of defeat in the opening round against Frenchwoman Camille Pin before prevailing 9-7 in the third set.

Since then she has seen off countrywoman Anastassia Rodionova, Italian No.30 seed Tathiana Garbin, Russian No.22 seed Vera Zvonareva, Russian No.12 seed Anna Chakvetadze and Belgian No.4 seed Kim Clijsters, all in straight sets.

Unseeded Williams' progression has been much tougher, despite a first-round win over Italian No.27 seed Mara Santangelo in which she conceded only three games and her fourth-round defeat of Serbian No.11 seed Jelena Jankovic when she gave up just five games.

In between there were a comfortable two-set defeat over Anne Kremer of Luxembourg and a comeback win over Russian No.5 seed Nadia Petrova after she had trailed by a set and 3-5.

But in her quarterfinal Williams had to recover from a break down in the deciding third set, when Israeli No.16 seed Shahar Peer served for the match, and in the semis Czech No.10 seed Nicole Vaidisova made the early running in both sets only to succumb in two.

Notable in the previous meetings between the pair is that Sharapova has won both finals they've contested, when she won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004 and also when she came from behind to triumph in three sets in the Tour Championships later that year.

But in their only previous clash at Melbourne Park it was Williams who got the job done in the semifinals two years ago. Sharapova had match points that day before Williams came from a set down to advance 2-6 7-5 8-6.

Regardless of their history on court, Sharapova says she has 'played her enough times to know her strengths and weaknesses' and that she is acutely aware that Williams will punish her if she doesn't make the most of her opportunities.

"We've always had pretty good battles, exciting matches. But I definitely enjoy the fight against her," Sharapova said. "I know I say this all the time, but it's also about chances."

"Taking the chances when you have them, especially against an experienced player like her. If you let too many get away, the more you're going let the match slip away."

Speaking a day before taking to the court, Williams' attitude towards the match was similarly based more on her own game than her opponent's, the former world No.1 saying that she has 'nothing to lose'.

"Like I've always said, I think if I play well, if I play my game, do what I can do, it's hard for anyone to beat me," Williams said. "I got to make sure I'm playing well. Sometimes I have a tendency to shank a few balls, to mis-hit, not be on. If I'm on, it's tough."

"Maria's playing really well. I thought she played excellent yesterday. That's how you have to do. Champs always pick it up in the last two rounds. She's shown she was able to do that. We have to see."

Saturday's women's final will be followed by the men's doubles decider, when the No.1 seeds Mike and Bob Bryan from the United States clash with the No.2 seeds, Swede Jonas Bjorkman and Belarussian Max Mirnyi.

The Bryan brothers won four of the first five meetings between the combinations dating back to the Australian Open 2005 semifinals but Bjorkman and Mirnyi won all three matches contested in 2006, coming from a set behind in the two most recent clashes.
Having won two French Open doubles titles together, Bjorkman and Mirnyi will be keen to register their hat-trick and hand the defending champion Bryans their third Melbourne Park final defeat in four years following losses in the decider in 2004 and 2005.

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Aussie Kim says her goodbyes

Maria Sharapova left, of Russia embraces Kim Clijsters of Belgium after their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Thursday January 25.

Thursday, 25 January, 2007.
Kim Clijsters admitted the fact she had just played her last Australian Open match had not even sunk in as she came to terms with her heartbreaking semifinal loss to Russia's No.1 seed Maria Sharapova on Day 11 at Melbourne Park.

Clijsters is one of the most popular players ever to visit Australia and clearly had a packed Rod Laver Arena on her side as she fought for the right to face Serena Williams in Saturday's final in her last Australian Open campaign before her retirement at the end of this year.
...moreThursday, 25 January, 2007.
Kim Clijsters admitted the fact she had just played her last Australian Open match had not even sunk in as she came to terms with her heartbreaking semifinal loss to Russia's No.1 seed Maria Sharapova on Day 11 at Melbourne Park.

Clijsters is one of the most popular players ever to visit Australia and clearly had a packed Rod Laver Arena on her side as she fought for the right to face Serena Williams in Saturday's final in her last Australian Open campaign before her retirement at the end of this year.

The Belgian has been a perennial contender at Melbourne Park over the years having been runner-up to fellow Belgian Justin Henin-Hardenne in the 2004 final as well as now having been beaten in the semifinals on four occasions.
But it seems the ultimate success at Melbourne Park will now never come her way unless of course she does a Martina Hingis and eventually decides to come out of retirement.

"I have mixed feelings at the moment, it's not really sinking in yet," she said, when asked after her loss to Sharapova her thoughts on just having played her last match at Melbourne Park.

"Straight after the match you are disappointed with having lost and you are not really thinking about everything else."
Clijsters said she would say goodbye to Melbourne Park tomorrow in her own way when she makes one final visit to the home of the Australian Open, having announced she will retire at the end of the year when she marries American pro basketball player Brian Lynch.

"I will come back tomorrow and take my time saying goodbye to everyone," she said.
"There are a lot of people I want to talk to face to face, people that work here and people I want to keep in touch with."
"I have so many great memories from my times in Australia, not just tennis wise but also all the friends I have made."

While disappointed to have squandered her last chance to win the Australian Open, Clijsters admitted her best chance of winning the tournament may have been back in 2003 when she led eventual champion Serena Williams 5-1 in the deciding set in the semifinals and had two match points at 5-2 before losing 7-5.
"The most frustrating one was the one against Serena when I was 5-2 up in the third, but I have never been the type of person who thinks it’s the end of world when I lose a match," she said.

"I always try to look at the positive things and then always try to come back stronger."

That sunny attitude will be one of just many things Australian tennis fans will miss about a player who will be remembered as one of the best never to win the Australian Open.
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Clijsters' last stand?

Kim Clijsters of Belgium waves to the crowd after her semifinal loss to Maria Sharapova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbo - Thursday January 25.

Kim Clijsters gets the chance to extend her last-ever Australian Open until the final match when she takes on Maria Sharapova in Thursday's second women's semi-final.

Crowd favourite Clijsters, who retires at the end of the year, knows she will have to improve on her quarter-final performance, when she hit 62 unforced errors in edging past good friend Martina Hingis 3-6 6-4 6-3.

"We always had good matches, good battles, close sets," Clijsters said of her match against Sharapova. "She's a great athlete and a good player.

"I just have to be there from the beginning. I can definitely not afford all the unforced errors against Maria because she just steps on top of you.
...moreKim Clijsters gets the chance to extend her last-ever Australian Open until the final match when she takes on Maria Sharapova in Thursday's second women's semi-final.

Crowd favourite Clijsters, who retires at the end of the year, knows she will have to improve on her quarter-final performance, when she hit 62 unforced errors in edging past good friend Martina Hingis 3-6 6-4 6-3.

"We always had good matches, good battles, close sets," Clijsters said of her match against Sharapova. "She's a great athlete and a good player.

"I just have to be there from the beginning. I can definitely not afford all the unforced errors against Maria because she just steps on top of you.

"I'll have to be sharp in the beginning of the match. She's an incredible athlete and fights for every point."

Sharapova, meanwhile, has her own gameplan against an opponent she feels has more power at her disposal.

"Obviously, she's a lot stronger than I am. Hands down to her," the world number two said.

"Other than that, I feel like I'm definitely on a closer level than I was, say, a year ago. I feel like I'm doing smarter things in situations, being a little bit more patient when I have to.

"I feel like I have a lot more plans in my pocket. Also experience."
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Sharapova sets up Serena showdown

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 25: Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning a point during her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium on day eleven of the Australian Open 2007 at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images).

Maria Sharapova will meet Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open after she brushed aside the challenge of Kim Clijsters on Thursday.

Sharapova was in aggressive form as she saw off Clijsters 6-4 6-2 in the second semi-final at the Rod Laver Arena.

The Russian's big first serve and powerful groundstrokes were too much for the popular Clijsters, despite the partisan support of the Melbourne fans.

Sharapova said: "I managed to find the big first serves when I needed them."

With Clijsters due to retire at the end of this season, this was her last appearance as a player at the Australian Open.

After leaving the court to a prolonged standing ovation, she said: "Of course I'll miss it - it's been a pleasure playing here.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a better match today - I tried everything I had, but I came up against a better player."

Sharapova, the number one seed, had fallen at the semi-final stage in both of the last two Australian Opens.

But she sought to dominate Clijsters from the start, and the 2004 runner-up could not live with the younger woman's power.

She said: "I'm excited about the final - I had a tough one here with Serena a few years ago.

"But I'm a little sad, because Kim is such a great champion on and off the court."

Serena storms into final

Serena Williams of the USA plays a backhand during her semi-final match against Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic on day eleven.

Thursday, 25 January, 2007

Serena Williams has become the first unseeded woman to make the Australian Open final for eight years, ousting Czech No.10 seed Nicole Vaidisova in straight-sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, the 2003 and 2005 champion, overcame a slow start to take a tight match 7-6(5) 6-4 and set up a final showdown with either Kim Clijsters or Maria Sharapova.

Vaidisova got a break in the opening game of the match, before Williams snatched it back in the sixth game. The Czech teenager then broke again and she served for the set in the tenth game.

But Williams rescued a set-point and took it to a tiebreaker, where she won the first four points. Vaidisova rallied to square it at 5-5, but cost herself the set with a forehand into the net when Williams had set point.

The first three games of the second set went against serve, before Williams held for a 3-1 lead. A crucial double fault in Vaidisova's next service game handed Williams another break, and she soon had a grip on a spot in the final with a 5-1 advantage. The Czech held her next service game, and then got a break back with sensational backhand winner which left the American flat-footed.

The brave 17-year-old then saved four match points in her next service game, getting the scoreline back to 4-5. She rescued another as Williams served for the match, before Williams finally sealed it with an overhead smash.

Serena into final at Aussie Open

Serena Williams of the USA celebrates winning a point during her semi-final match against Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic on day eleven.

Melbourne, Australia (Sports Network) - American Serena Williams continued her march toward a possible third Australian Open title, reaching the final with a thrilling 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over 10th-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova.

Williams, who came into this tournament ranked 81st in the world, has a chance to become only the second unseeded Australian Open women's singles champion in the Open Era. She'll face either top seed Maria Sharapova or fourth seed Kim Clijsters for the title on Saturday.

Williams won the Aussie Open in 2003 and '05, and is trying for her eighth Grand Slam title. However, she almost fell behind a set on Thursday and was in danger of not reaching the final.

Vaidisova was ahead 5-4 and had a set point, but Williams saved it and the Czech hit a return into the net, allowing the American to break serve.

Then, Williams blew a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak, partly due to a pair of double faults. Vaidisova's four consecutive points evened it, but Williams came through with a backhand passing shot, and another unforced error by the Czech ended the opening set.

It looked as if Williams would breeze to the final with a 5-1 lead in the second set, but Vaidisova broke serve once to stay in the match. Vaidisova then saved five match points, the last one when a backhand by her was clearly wide, but Williams was out of challenges.

It didn't matter though, as Williams ended it on her sixth match point try, delivering an overhand smash winner.

01/25 00:13:07 ET

Sharapova, Clijsters to meet in semifinals

Maria Sharapova, the reigning U.S. Open champion, beat 12th seed Anna Chakvetadze 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

Melbourne, Australia (Sports Network) - Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters will meet in the semifinals of the Australian Open after each were victorious Wednesday, but both had to overcome plenty of unforced errors.

The top-seeded Sharapova, the reigning U.S. Open champion, beat 12th seed Anna Chakvetadze in an all-Russian matchup, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. Sharapova had 41 unforced errors, but managed to capitalize on mistakes from her compatriot at Rod Laver Arena.

The fourth-seeded Clijsters, the 2005 U.S. Open titlist, then rallied to top No. 6 seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The Belgian overcame 62 unforced errors to deny Hingis a chance at her fourth Australian Open championship.

Thursday's other semifinal will pit unseeded American Serena Williams against 10th-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova.

Clijsters, who beat Hingis in the quarterfinals in Melbourne last year, took advantage of a double fault by her Swiss opponent in the final game of the match. Clijsters then drilled a passing shot to end it.

"This could have been my last match here," said Clijsters, who has already announced she will retire at the end of this year. "I'm very happy I get to play another one."

The number of unforced errors pointed to a Hingis win, but Clijsters was able to move into the semifinals for the fifth time since 2002.

"That was, I think, the only thing that I was seeing out there," Clijsters said of the miscues. "I really wasn't seeing the ball. The only thing you can do when you're not seeing the ball that well, and you feel like you're trying hard, is fight. I just worked for every point, and hopefully turned things around. I did."

For Hingis, she was trying to advance to her seventh final in Melbourne, having won the championship from 1997-99. She was the runner-up from 2000-02. The Swiss star missed the event from 2003-05 after she retired from the WTA Tour at the end of the 2002 season. She returned to the circuit in time for the start of the 2006 campaign.

"It's great to see her out here again," Clijsters said of Hingis. "I knew over the last year, she's definitely been improving. I knew it was going to be a tough one out there today. She's a good friend."

Sharapova, who is assured after this week of returning to the No. 1 ranking she last held in October 2005, moved to 44-15 lifetime in tour events against Russian players.

Chakvetadze held a 5-4 lead in the opening set, but couldn't break Sharapova the remainder of that set, and hit a forehand into the net to end the tiebreaker. Chakvetadze tried to fight back from a 5-3 deficit in the second set, breaking Sharapova once. However, Sharapova finally ended the match when Chakvetadze hit a return into the net.

"I was just very competitive," Sharapova said. "Against a girl like that, who gets a lot of balls back, it's just a matter of who can be a little bit smarter, who can get an extra ball back, who is a little tougher. I thought I did the job really well today."

As far as the semifinal matchups are concerned, Clijsters is 4-2 all-time against Sharapova, but the Russian has won the last two encounters. This will be the first meeting between Williams and Vaidisova.

Williams won the Aussie Open in 2003 and '05, and is trying for her eighth Grand Slam title.

01/24 08:15:30 ET