Sharapova storms into Stuttgart final
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TWO-TIME defending champion Maria Sharapova cruised past Sara Errani 6-1, 6-2 yesterday to reach her third straight Porsche Grand Prix final.
Sharapova dominated the 59-minute semifinal and will play either Jelena Jankovic or her Serbian compatriot Ana Ivanovic in the final. Sharapova extended her winning streak on Stuttgart’s indoor clay to 12 matches and is undefeated against Errani in five matches.
The Italian hit a big cross-court return that kissed the line to save the first match point. But Sharapova then hit a superb backhand down the line to close out the match.
Sharapova, seeded sixth, is looking for her 30th career title. The Russian returned late last year after missing more than four months following shoulder surgery.
In Barcelona, Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Barcelona Open final yesterday.
Gulbis’ big serve failed to counter Nishikori’s faster movement on the outdoor red clay at the Real Club de Tenis.
Down a set, ninth-seeded Gulbis saved seven break points in the second before finally ceding his serve and losing the 85-minute match.
Fourth-seeded Nishikori will be seeking his second title of the season and fifth in his career today.
Nicolas Almagro, who ousted eight-time winner and Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal on Friday, faces Colombian Santiago Giraldo in the other semifinal.
In Bucharest, Romania‚ top-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria advanced to the final of the Nastase Tiriac Trophy yesterday when Gael Monfils had to retire with an ankle injury in the first set.
Monfils twisted his right ankle when walking onto the court before the match and had to quit when trailing 1-5 after just 16 minutes of play. Dimitrov will play defending champion Lukas Rosol in today’s final, after the Czech rallied to beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Dimitrov is looking for his third ATP title but said he was disappointed his French rival wasn’t able to continue.
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