Russians Safin, Sharapova Reach Finals, Paris Hooks Flipper?

Posted on October 24, 2004

Sharapova Outlasts Fellow Russian Dementieva to Reach WTA Zurich Final

Russian Maria Sharapova took a lot of heat in early October for playing two Asian tournaments where she was the lone Top 35-ranked player, seen as a desperate bid to regain her confidence after a slump following her Wimbledon win.

Apparently it worked.

On Saturday at the WTA stop in Zurich, Sharapova followed her quarterfinal win over Venus Williams with a three-set win over fellow Russian and two-time 2004 slam runner-up Elena Dementieva 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"It was a very tough match and a very long one, so I'm happy to have won," Sharapova said. "I thought I was the more aggressive player on the crucial points which helped me dictate the play."

In the final Sharapova, who is now riding a 12-match winning streak, will face unseeded Aussie Alicia Molik, who outlasted homecountry favorite and No. 10 seed Patty Schnyder, rebounding after dropping the first set to win in three.

"I've beaten a lot of Top 20 players this week so I'm on a roll and just hope I can continue that tomorrow," Molik said. "I won't be looking to change too much about my game. Maria's been playing some great tennis but I just plan to worry about what I'm doing."

Sharapova won her only meeting with Molik earlier this year on the grasscourts at Birmingham in straight sets.

The doubles final will be (2) Black/Stubbs vs. (1) Ruano Pascual/Suarez.

Safin, Nalbandian to Clash in ATP Madrid Final

No. 3 seed Marat Safin upped his chances of qualifying for the year-end Masters Cup Saturday with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over No. 2 seed Andre Agassi at the Masters Series-Madrid.

"I knew he was a little bit tired with the long match of yesterday," Safin said. "I could concentrate on my serve and take chances on his."

Agassi was up a mini-break in the second set tiebreak but could not hold out.

"I got outplayed in the first set," Agassi said. "I managed to sort of hang in there and figure out a way to give myself more chances than him in the second. Didn't quite just get over that hump."

In the final Safin will square off against No. 4 seed David Nalbandian, who is also jockeying for one of the remaining four Masters Cup spots. Nalbandian defeated unseeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-4 in his semifinal.

Safin has won four of his five meetings with Nalbandian, but the Argentine won their most recent meeting this year at Roland Garros.

"He defeated me at Roland Garros," Safin said. "I had a lot of blisters, so it's a good excuse. But I like to play against him. I feel comfortable. Now it's different. He's playing much better. He has more confidence, more experience. He knows how to play indoors. Everything depends on the beginning of the match and how everything starts. After that the match will be defined."

The doubles final will feature world No. 1s (1) Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor vs. (2) Bob/Mike Bryan.

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