Sharapova, Vera set up for final
Maria Sharapova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-3 and set up an all-Russian final at the Qatar Open against Vera Zvonareva.
By HT Correspondent | AP, Doha
UPDATED ON FEB 24, 2008 02:37 PM IST
Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-3 to extend her unbeaten run to 13 matches and set up an all-Russian final at the Qatar Open against Vera Zvonareva.
Zvonareva rallied to beat Li Na of China 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and improve to 1-2 against her opponent.
The fourth-seeded Sharapova lost to the 16th-seeded Radwanska at the US Open in September.
"It was a good opportunity for me to go out and play against a player who had beaten me," Sharapova said. "I think she did a good job early in the match, but I was able to get ahead and play good tennis."
Sharapova had two breaks to Radwanska's one in the first set, and broke the Pole three times in the second set.
"It wasn't an easy match as she got a lot of balls back, but I was able to dig in and get winners myself," Sharapova said. "At times, it was quite tough out there."
Sharapova leads 4-3 over Zvonareva, but lost most recently in three sets at Indian Wells in 2007.
"I lost to her the last time I played her," Sharapova said. "I don't want to lose again."
The winner will receive USD 441,000, the richest paycheck on the WTA tour outside the Grand Slams.
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