Sharapova beats Davenport in Tokyo final

Wimbeldon champion Maria Sharapova beats Lindsay Davenport to win the title at the Pan Pacific Rim Open in Tokyo.

The Associated Press

TOKYO, Feb. 6 -- Reigning Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat No. 1 Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the Pan Pacific Open final Sunday and will move up to a career-high third in the WTA Tour rankings.


Maria Sharapova, of Russia, jubilates after winning her match against Shinobu Asagoe of Japan during their semi-final match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo Saturday. Shrapova beat Asagoe, 6-1, 7-6. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Sharapova prevented Davenport from winning a record fifth title at the indoor tournament. Davenport, who lost to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final last weekend, hit 13 aces against Sharapova but needed a medical timeout after the first set because of a sore left thigh.

"I'm very happy to have won," said Sharapova, who had nine aces. "Lindsay played an amazing match and it all came down to the tiebreaker, so obviously it was a very tough match."

She will move past Amelie Mauresmo in Monday's new rankings and jump from No. 4 to No. 3, trailing only Davenport and Williams.

"My job is to go out and perform well," Sharapova said. "I have no timetable to become No. 1 in the world. If it happens, it happens."

On match point Sunday, she smacked a forehand down the line that Davenport couldn't catch up to.

"I left the court to get some support on my left thigh. I just went back out there and tried to keep the points as short as possible," Davenport said. "In the tiebreaker, she came up with some great shots and I couldn't run down many balls."

Sharapova, who lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Williams, collected a $189,000 winner's check.

"I served well in the first set," the 17-year-old Russian said. "But she came out after the break and got a little confidence. It's tough when your opponent serves so well. I served well, too, but it was my return that I was most satisfied with."

Davenport and Martina Hingis are the only players to win the Pan Pacific Open four times.

After losing the singles final, Davenport went out and played the doubles final. She and Corina Morariu _ the runners-up at the Australian Open _ were beaten by Janette Husarova of Slovakia and Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 6-4, 6-3.

Story produced by
Doug Bell