Sharapova recovered from a set down to beat Ivanovic and claim her 30th career title. PHOTO: AFP
Having won the 2012 and 2013 titles here, the 27-year-old Sharapova was made to work hard for her 13th consecutive win on Stuttgart’s clay-courts for the 30th final win of her career before over-powering Ivanovic to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in just over two hours.
“That was a tough bit of work,” said Sharapova, who has won all four grand slam titles.
“I have always believed in my chances and the fighting spirit is something that comes from within me.”
This was the first time Sharapova has claimed a third title at an individual tournament and comes on the back of last year’s shoulder injury.
“This time around it’s been extremely tough, that’s why this win is so special.”
The Russian collected the winner’s cheque of €96,774 and a brand-new sports car.
“I will need to build a new garage to get all the cars in,” she joked as she collected her third Porsche sports car in as many years from the tournament director.
It was the Russian’s first clay-court tournament in the build-up to the French Open, having lost to Serena Williams in last year’s final.
Having been taken to three sets by Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova in her first-round match, Russia’s Sharapova had swept into the final with straight set wins over compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and Italian clay-court specialist Sara Errani in the semi-finals.
But Ivanovic, the ninth seed, made the statuesque Russian dig deep and the 26-year-old wasted no time asserting herself over Sharapova, racing into a 5-0 lead in the first set before the defending champion responded. However, the Serbian held her serve to take the first set.
Having won her previous tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, last month, Ivanovic went 3-1 up in the second set, but the match’s momentum turned against her when Sharapova broke her and fought her way back to take the set.
Nishikori eases to Barcelona Open title
Japan’s Kei Nishikori sealed his fifth career ATP title and first on clay on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo to claim the Barcelona Open.
Nishikori becomes the first non-Spaniard to win the event since 2002.
Giraldo was playing in just his second career final on the tour and his inexperience showed as Nishikori dictated from the off and broke three times on his way to taking the first set.
More of the same was to come in the second set as Nishikori raced to a 5-1 lead before serving out for the championship.
“I always love to come to Barcelona and it is a pleasure and honour to be here,” said Nishikori, the world number 17.
“I want to thank my team, Dante [Bottini] and Michael [Chang], and I hope I come back next year and defend this title.
“It is not easy to win this title with all the Spanish players that play here. It is one of the most difficult ATP 500 tournaments and I am very happy to win.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2014.
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