Maria Sharapova (RUS) |
6 |
6 |
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Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) |
3 |
2 |
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Top-seeded Maria Sharapova kept the pressure on fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze from the baseline for most of their 1 hour and 9 minute semifinal and came away with a solid 6-3, 6-2, victory to advance to Sunday’s Acura Classic final.
Chakvetadze, who completed her thrilling three-set victory over Venus Williams at almost 9:45 p.m. on Friday, looked visibly tired and could not answer Sharapova’s strong baseline game.
Playing before a capacity crowd of 6,500 on Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa, both players remained on serve in the first set until 2-2, when Chakvetadze lost serve to give Sharapova a 3-2 lead.
Despite opening the next game with a double fault, Sharapova held for a 4-2 advantage. After Chakvetadze held to cut the lead to 4-3, Sharapova hit an ace to start the game and went on to hold for a 5-3 lead.
Serving to stay in the set, Chakvetadze threw in a double fault at 15-15 and three points later dropped her serve to lose the set. At 1-1 in the second set, Sharapova went on a tear and won four games in a row for a 5-1 lead.
The defending Acura Classic champion served for the match and began the game with ace. However, at 30-30 she rushed her serve and double faulted twice to give Chakvetadze her only service break of the match. “I kind of let down in that service game,” Sharapova said.
Chakvetadze, serving to stay in the match, fell behind 15-40 as she double faulted. She saved one match point when Sharapova’s forehand cross court service return went wide. At 30-40, Chakvetadze hit a cross court backhand in the net to end the match.
“I thought the first set was pretty competitive,” Sharapova said. “Once I got that first break in the second set, I felt like I was in cruise control.”
Sharapova had five aces during the match. Each player committed six double faults.
- Sharapova advances to her second consecutive Acura Classic singles final. She will face the winner of the Patty Schnyder/Elena Dementieva semifinal.
- Sharapova is ranked number two in the world.
- Sharapova now leads Chakvetadze 5-0 in head-to-head meetings.
- Sharapova improves her 2007 match record to 30-8.
- Sharapova is making her third career Acura Classic appearance.
- Chakvetadze is ranked sixth in the world.
- Chakvetadze was making her third Acura Classic appearance.
- Chakvetadze is one of 17 Russians women in the Top 100.
- Chakvetadze has represented Russia in Fed Cup play.
For more match summaries, please click here.
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