Sharapova wins Pan Pacific Open
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-06 16:35

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has beaten an injury-hampered Lindsay Davenport 6-1 3-6 7-6 to win the Pan Pacific Open.

Maria Sharapova of Russia (R) shows off the winner's plate after defeating world number one Lindsay Davenport (L) of the United States in the women's singles final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo February 6, 2005. [AP]

The Russian converted her fourth match point to take the third set tiebreak 7-5 and halt Davenport's bid for a record fifth title at the $1.3 million (690,000 pound) event.

Sharapova's eighth career title means she will rise from fourth to third in the world rankings.

It had looked as though Sharapova would run away with the match as she took the first set in just 22 minutes.

Her left leg heavily bandaged, Davenport could barely run and was moving gingerly between points in her sixth Pan Pacific Open final.

The world number one went to the locker room for a medical time-out after the first set and the American fought back to take the second as Sharapova's concentration wavered.

The final set went with serve but Sharapova came up with the big shots to earn four match points.

The 17-year-old squandered three of them -- just as she did in her semi-final loss to Serena Williams at the Australian Open.

However, this time she held her nerve and ended Davenport's brave resistance with a forehand down the line after one hour 47 minutes.

Close

Rockets drive out Timberwolves 119-113 in OT Spurs vs Lakers Sharapova in Pan Pacific Open

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
China sets no timetable on currency change         China could be world's No. 3 auto producer         All 104 aboard Afghan jet believed dead         Direct flights a hit with New Year passengers         China to attract more foreign experts: Premier         Nine dead in Japan, apparent group suicide	Real crush Espanyol 4-0 to make it six in a row       Juventus suffer second successive loss       Keane's 50th goal for Man Utd       Will Lang Ping coach America to play China?       Carter drops 41 as Nets blow out Pistons       Heat defeat Bulls, 108-97