Sharapova Returns To No. 2 Ranking After Beijing Title Over Kvitova

Maria Sharapova captured her fourth title of the WTA season beating Petra Kvitova 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 at the Premier Mandatory stop in Beijing Sunday. The tough victory also catapults the Russian back to the No. 2 ranking.

“It was a bit of an up-and-down match I’d say – maybe not the best out of the tournament,” Sharapova said. “But it’s never easy playing against Petra. You don’t always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she’s a very good, confident player.

“I knew she’d been on a roll in the last couple of weeks. It’s probably the toughest opponent you can face in a final, that’s had that success, yet you just want to focus on your side, what you do best.

“She became the more aggressive player in the second set. I think I took a few too many steps back and let her play that way. But I was able to lift my game again in the third and come out with a win.”

Kvitova, who had won in Wuhan the week before, but couldn’t extend the momentum from the second set into the third.

“Yeah, I was tired, but it was a final, and every time I’m playing a final, I’m giving everything I have inside,” said Kvitova who was 8-0 in China this fall before today. “What I did today was a great battle. It was small things and small points that made the difference in the end. I had some chances, but Maria just didn’t let them go.

“She just played really well. And we played two and a half, so I hope the fans enjoyed it too.”

Sharapova now leads Kvitova 6-2 in their series winning the last five since the Czech took the 2011 Wimbledon final. The title was also the 33rd of Maria’s career, fourth of 2014. It was also her first hardcourt title since 2013 Indian Wells and first in China.