Tokyo, October 02: Former world number one Maria Sharapova overcame a mid-match slump to grind out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska at the Pan Pacific Open on Friday, setting up a final against Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic.
Seventh seed Jankovic had earlier overpowered China’s Li Na 6-4, 6-3 in the day’s first semi-final at the $2 million tournament in Tokyo.
“It will be a tough final,” Sharapova said in a courtside interview. “Jelena is one of the best players in the world and I’ll have to fight for every point.”
Sharapova, 25th in the world and chasing her first title since shoulder surgery last October, took the first set with a backhand bomb off a weak Radwanska second serve.
The Russian lost her way in the second, double-faulting to hand Radwanska a 5-2 lead, the 11th seed quickly closing out the set with a huge serve down the centre line.
Sharapova had to dig herself out of a hole at 0-2 in the decider as she summoned the big-game experience that brought her three Grand Slam titles between 2004 and 2008.
Shrieking louder and louder as the ferocity of her groundstrokes increased, Sharapova forged ahead 5-3 by smashing a forehand down the line.
The 2005 Tokyo champion squandered two match points on her serve in the next game but sealed victory at the fourth attempt by ripping a backhand return cross court.
Jankovic, who finished 2008 at the top of the world rankings, had too much firepower for Li but was given a good workout by the 15th seed in preparation for Saturday’s final.
“My tennis is coming back,” the world number eight said. “It’s been a very tough year but I still have a chance to win my third title which is pretty good.”
—Agencies