World No.5 Maria Sharapova needed three sets to beat fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 for the Qatar Total Open title, but the important thing is she won and kept her perfect season intact as she extended her match record this year to 14-0.
This is Sharapova’s second title at Doha, previously she won the tournament in 2005. Also, it’s her 18th career title and second of the year following her triumph at the Australian Open last month.
The fourth-seeded Sharapova quickly took the first set against unseeded Zvonareva, but it was not to be another easy win for Sharapova. World No.27 Zvonareva dominated the second set thanks to just three unforced errors, but things completely turned against her in the third. Sharapova gained a quick break for a 1-0 lead and broke again at love in the third game. Zvonareva never recovered, winning a total of just eight points in the decisive set.
The 23-year-old Zvonareva played her second final of the season, and was trying for her sixth singles title.
Winning the Qatar Total Open, Sharapova earned $414,000, while Zvonareva took home $211,000.