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Sharapova Makes Amends Year Later

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By JOHN PYE The Associated Press

Published: January 26, 2008

MELBOURNE, Australia - Maria Sharapova won the Australian Open without losing a set, wrapping up her third Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Ana Ivanovic today.

The fifth-seeded Sharapova was back in a final at a major for the first time since her 6-1, 6-2 loss to Serena Williams last year at Melbourne Park and determined to make amends for that against a fellow 20-year-old.

The Russian star was aggressive from the start and, apart from one bad service game in the first set that allowed Ivanovic back to 4-4, controlled the key points against a Serbian player for the second straight match. Sharapova beat No. 3 Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals after ending top-ranked Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak in the quarters.

Ivanovic is 0-2 in Grand Slam finals - she lost the French Open championship match to Henin last year.

Ivanovic, seeded fourth, saved two match points but sprayed a forehand wide to give Sharapova the title, to go with her wins at Wimbledon in 2004 and the 2006 U.S. Open.

On a hot, sunny day with temperatures reaching 93 degrees, people in the crowd were fanning themselves, and Sharapova retreated to the shade behind the baselines to gather herself between points.

Serving at 2-2 in the first set, Ivanovic set up double break point with a double fault, then sent a forehand long.

After holding serve the first three times at love, Sharapova returned the favor, committing three double faults while serving at 4-3, the last two at deuce to hand the game to Ivanovic.

But she shrugged off the setback, running off the last three games, breaking to go ahead 6-5.

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