Sharapova Crowned 2006 Acura Classic Champion

Second-seeded Maria Sharapova, playing a patient, but aggressive baseline game, defeated top-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, 7-5, 7-5, at the La Costa Resort and Spa to win the 2006 Acura Classic singles title.
Sharapova’s victory, before a capacity crowd of 6,500 on Stadium Court, represented her second title of 2006 and her 12th career tour singles title.

The Russian opened the match with a double fault but went on to hold serve. Neither player was able to hold serve as there were four straight service breaks.

Clijsters finally held to tie the set a 3-3. After Sharapova held serve to take a 4-3 lead, the Belgian lost her serve again as she threw in a couple of double faults to fall behind 5-3.

Sharapova served for the set at 5-3. At ad-in and set point for Sharapova, the point of the tournament was played as each player made spectacular saves during a long baseline rally.

With both players gasping for breath, Clijsters won the point as Sharapova netted a forehand. The crowd erupted and gave both players a standing ovation.

Clijsters went on to break serve and hold on the next game to tie the set at 5-5. She later served to stay in the set at 5-6 but on the second break point of the game, the Belgian netted a crosscourt forehand in the net as Sharapova wrapped up the first set, 7-5.

In the second set, Clijsters’ serve picked up as she lost only four points in her first five service games. However, Sharapova gamely fought off all five break points against her own serve in the set and took a 6-5 lead.

Clijsters served to stay in the match at 6-5 and fell behind 0-30 as she hit a forehand long. With fans cheering her to extend the set, she fell behind 0-40 as her backhand sailed long giving Sharapova three championship points.

On her first championship point Sharapova netted a backhand service return to make the score 15-40.

The match, which took one-hour and 48 minutes, would end on the next point as Sharapova’s strong forehand service return down the middle of the court caused Clijsters to hit her forehand long.

• The victory was Sharapova’s first in five career meetings with Clijsters.
• This was Sharapova’s 12th career tour singles title.
• Sharapova is ranked fourth in the world.
• Sharapova improves her 2006 match record to 37-7.
• Sharapova improves here career Acura Classic record to 7-1.
• Sharapova was making her second career Acura Classic appearance.
• Clijsters was making her sixth career Acura Classic appearance. This was her second appearance in the final. She lost to Justin Henin-Hardenne in the final in 2003.
• Clijsters is ranked number two in the world.
• Clijsters 2006 match record is now 36-9.
• Clijsters has won 32 career tour singles titles.
• Clijsters achieved the number one ranking in the world in August 2003.

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