Vera Zvonareva played well enough to take a set off of Maria Sharapova in today's final at the Qatar Total Open, but--despite some outstanding tennis from Zvonareva--Sharapova was too good. This is the first year that the Qatar Total Open is a Tier I event, and the win gives Sharapova six career Tier I titles, in addition to three Grand Slams and one Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships title. This was Zvonareva's first Tier I final.
It took Zvonareva an entire set to adjust to Sharapova's pace. In the second set, however, she became much more aggressive, and took advantage of Sharapova's service problems, her forehand, and her sometimes uncertain net play. The third set was all Sharapova, though: Sharapova def. Zvonareva, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0
In the doubles final, Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs defeated Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 6-1, 5-7, 10-7.
1 comment:
Thanks for your description of Maria's play in the Doha final. I wonder whether her 2nd set issues will travel with her to Dubai, where she has no bye, faces Szavay in her first match, and then should play Amelie. I'd love to see an upset, especially by a Mauresmo reportedly considering retirement, but Sharapova is just such a fierce competitor...
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