Sharapova Wins 3rd Straight Title at Linz
Posted on October 30, 2006LINZ, Austria -- Throughout her week at the Generali Ladies Linz, Maria Sharapova faced stern opposition but always managed to earn victory in straight sets, no matter what kind of tight situation she was in. And the story was much the same in Sunday afternoon's championship final against Nadia Petrova. The Russian teenager battled back from a 5-3 first set deficit and took complete control in the second set to prevail over her compatriot, 75 62, capturing an impressive fifth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title of the year, and the 15th of her career.
It was the eighth time this season that the top two seeds would battle for a title; and for just the third time it was the favorite who downed the No.2 seed, as an inspired Sharapova battled back from 40-15 and double set point while trailing 5-3 in the opening set, reeling off four straight games to complete the mini-comeback. After staying relatively even through the first five games of the second set it was again the youngster who took charge, losing just one more point from 3-2 in winning the last three games and ultimately the match. She is now 5-1 against Petrova.
"I'm playing with more confidence because I'm playing more," Sharapova said. "I'm more fit. I feel as I play more matches, I'm getting better and better. I'm excited that at this point in my career I'm fit to win three tournaments in a row."
Sharapova's three-tournament streak began at the US Open, where she claimed her second major title, and continued through Zurich last week and now Linz this week. She has won 16 matches in a row, one shy of Justine Henin-Hardenne's season-best, and is now tied with Petrova and the Belgian in 2006 titles won.
"It's been an incredible year," said Sharapova, who won her first two titles of the year at Indian Wells and San Diego. "Winning another major has been great. It's been a really cool year, I've been consistent and have had some great results."
The eventual champion did not drop a set all week, but it was by no means easy. She broke away after a service break-less first 10 games with Eleni Daniilidou in her opening round to win, 75 61; she played clutch tie-break tennis and held off a late-match surge from fellow teen Ana Ivanovic in the quarters, 76(3) 75; and in the semifinals she played Patty Schnyder, who was fighting valiantly for one of the remaining season-ending berths, and posted a 75 75 victory.
Petrova also compiled a solid week, notching easy straight set wins over Shahar Peer, Samantha Stosur and Nicole Vaidisova on the way to her 12th career final. She is now 6-6 in those, and 5-2 this season.
It was the 10th all-Russian singles final in Tour history; Sharapova is now 2-1 in her three such finals. She is projected to rise from No.3 to No.2 on the new Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings, marking the first time in over a year she'll be ranked among the Top 2.
The new Linz champion now looks to continue her fall form at the upcoming Sony Ericsson Championships, which begin in just over a week in Madrid.
"I'm looking forward to it. This is the road to that, and that's the important one."
Raymond and Stosur continue fall resurgence with doubles title
The world's top-ranked team continued their return to winning form with an easy championship victory over a first-time pairing. The top-seeded duo trounced the unseeded American-Slovenian tandem of Corina Morariu and Katarina Srebotnik, 63 60, for its Sony Ericsson WTA Tour-leading eighth title of the season.
Raymond and Stosur claimed titles earlier in the season at Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Memphis, Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston and Roland Garros, but failed to claim another through the grass court season and the US Open Series, which are likely some of their strongest seasons. But, they have returned to the winner's circle twice already this fall, winning in Stuttgart and now here in Linz.
Raymond and Stosur now own 13 titles together. Since joining forces early last summer, the American-Australian tandem holds an 80-19 record. Their next match will mark their 100th as a team.
-- WTA
It was the eighth time this season that the top two seeds would battle for a title; and for just the third time it was the favorite who downed the No.2 seed, as an inspired Sharapova battled back from 40-15 and double set point while trailing 5-3 in the opening set, reeling off four straight games to complete the mini-comeback. After staying relatively even through the first five games of the second set it was again the youngster who took charge, losing just one more point from 3-2 in winning the last three games and ultimately the match. She is now 5-1 against Petrova.
"I'm playing with more confidence because I'm playing more," Sharapova said. "I'm more fit. I feel as I play more matches, I'm getting better and better. I'm excited that at this point in my career I'm fit to win three tournaments in a row."
Sharapova's three-tournament streak began at the US Open, where she claimed her second major title, and continued through Zurich last week and now Linz this week. She has won 16 matches in a row, one shy of Justine Henin-Hardenne's season-best, and is now tied with Petrova and the Belgian in 2006 titles won.
"It's been an incredible year," said Sharapova, who won her first two titles of the year at Indian Wells and San Diego. "Winning another major has been great. It's been a really cool year, I've been consistent and have had some great results."
The eventual champion did not drop a set all week, but it was by no means easy. She broke away after a service break-less first 10 games with Eleni Daniilidou in her opening round to win, 75 61; she played clutch tie-break tennis and held off a late-match surge from fellow teen Ana Ivanovic in the quarters, 76(3) 75; and in the semifinals she played Patty Schnyder, who was fighting valiantly for one of the remaining season-ending berths, and posted a 75 75 victory.
Petrova also compiled a solid week, notching easy straight set wins over Shahar Peer, Samantha Stosur and Nicole Vaidisova on the way to her 12th career final. She is now 6-6 in those, and 5-2 this season.
It was the 10th all-Russian singles final in Tour history; Sharapova is now 2-1 in her three such finals. She is projected to rise from No.3 to No.2 on the new Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings, marking the first time in over a year she'll be ranked among the Top 2.
The new Linz champion now looks to continue her fall form at the upcoming Sony Ericsson Championships, which begin in just over a week in Madrid.
"I'm looking forward to it. This is the road to that, and that's the important one."
Raymond and Stosur continue fall resurgence with doubles title
The world's top-ranked team continued their return to winning form with an easy championship victory over a first-time pairing. The top-seeded duo trounced the unseeded American-Slovenian tandem of Corina Morariu and Katarina Srebotnik, 63 60, for its Sony Ericsson WTA Tour-leading eighth title of the season.
Raymond and Stosur claimed titles earlier in the season at Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Memphis, Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston and Roland Garros, but failed to claim another through the grass court season and the US Open Series, which are likely some of their strongest seasons. But, they have returned to the winner's circle twice already this fall, winning in Stuttgart and now here in Linz.
Raymond and Stosur now own 13 titles together. Since joining forces early last summer, the American-Australian tandem holds an 80-19 record. Their next match will mark their 100th as a team.
-- WTA