DOHA, 27 February 2005 — Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova staged a superb rally yesterday to smother the challenge of Alicia Molik 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and win the $600,000 Qatar Open.
“I was always positive, even after losing the first set,” the Russian smiled after collecting her winner’s check of $94,000. “I had a good game.”
However, the world number four and second seed found the going tough in the first set.
Fourth seed Molik, brimming with confidence after her semifinal win over top seed Amelie Mauresmo on Friday, played aggressive tennis and knocked the wind out of Sharapova in the first set.
The Australian world number nine broke Sharapova in the third game and held her serve in the next to take a 3-1 lead.
Showing scant respect for the rising Russian, Molik fired four aces in all to win the first set 6-4 in 36 minutes.
Molik, who had beaten Sharapova in the Zurich final last year, looked heading for a repeat of that win but Sharapova rebounded, breaking Molik in the second and fourth games to clinch the second set 6-1.
The Russian teenager raised her game a notch and took a vice-like grip. As Sharapova grew in stature, Molik’s game fell apart and her challenge fizzled out.
Sharapova broke Molik in the fifth game of the third set and held her nerve for victory.
Federer Flattens Agassi to Reach Final
In Dubai, Roger Federer claimed a stunning 6-3, 6-1 victory over a traumatized Andre Agassi yesterday to reach the final of the Dubai Open.
Having failed to show his best form throughout the week, including during his 6-3 7-5 quarterfinal victory over Mikhail Youzhny earlier in the day, the Swiss world No. 1 was virtually unplayable in the second set, tying up the match in just 51 minutes.
Hitting winners almost at will, he surpassed even his own high standards to break for a 3-0 lead in the second set, running back and then hitting a lob that landed right on the baseline to leave even Federer shaking his head in wonder.
That second break of the set signaled the end for Agassi.
In a highly entertaining match which emphasized placement rather than power, it was Agassi who made the steadier start, holding a break point at 1-1 that was saved by Federer with a service winner.
Federer then reduced his errors and games went comfortably with serve until 4-3, when Federer broke Agassi to love and took the opening set by winning 12 of the last 13 points.
Agassi found his back against the wall as Federer continued his momentum into the second set, dropping his serve when Federer hit a winning pass on his second break point after Agassi had saved the first with a second serve ace.
Pennetta Sets Up All-Italian Contest
In Mexico City, Flavia Pennetta set up an all-Italian semifinal with Antonella Serra Zanetti at the Mexican Open with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lilia Osterloh.
Top seed at the $180,000 claycuort event, Pennetta overcame a first-set hiccup before easing to victory on her 23rd birthday at the Acapulco claycourt event.
Pennetta received treatment for a groin strain at the end of the first set and never looked back.
Serra Zanetti, who beat Colombia’s Catalina Castano 7-6, 6-4 in their quarterfinal, has beaten Pennetta in all four previous meetings.
Nothing, including that dismal record, could spoil Pennetta’s day, though.
The other semifinal will feature Madagascar’s Dally Randriantefy and Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia.
Randriantefy, a 6-3 6-3 winner over Frenchwoman Emilie Loit, will contest her first WTA semi after 11 years on the tour.
Spadea, Ancic, Rochus Reach Scottsdale ATP Semifinals
Third-seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia defeated Ecuador’s Giovanni Lapentti 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the $355,000 ATP hardcourt tournament on Friday.
The quarterfinal win was Ancic’s easiest of the week. He needed three sets to defeat American wild card Brendan Evans in the first round and needed to win a tiebreaker in his second-round match with Australian Mark Philippoussis.
Ancic awaits defending champion Vincent Spadea in the semifinals. The second seed, Spadea pulled away from fellow American James Blake on Friday night to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-1. Spadea, who was battling a stomach flu entering this event, has reached at least the quarterfinals in three of his last four events but still is seeking his first title of the year.
Blake was playing in his first quarterfinal of the year after an injury- and illness-filled 2004 season.
In the top half of the draw, Belgian Christophe Rochus posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Davide Sanguinetti of Italy to reach the semi-finals of an ATP Tour event for the first time since May in Casablanca.
A loser in the final of a Challenger event last week, Rochus next faces Wayne Arthurs of Australia, who defeated American Glenn Weiner, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
