MASON:After a listless first set, Maria Sharapova got inspired by a pep talk from her coach and rolled to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva on Saturday, seizing a spot in the final of the Western & Southern Open.
She’ll play 13th-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who beat Andrea Petkovic 7-6 (4), 6-1 in the later semifinal.
The fourth-seeded Sharapova was completely off her game in the first set, barely able to score points against the world’s second-ranked player. Coach Thomas Hogstedt gave Sharapova an animated courtside talk, and she took over the 2-hour, 2-minute all-Russian match.
“I didn’t do a lot of talking,” Sharapova said. “He talked most of the time. I called him over because I felt I just needed a little energy. Something was missing in the first set.”
Sharapova will be trying for her second tournament title this season—she also won in Rome. Last year, she reached the finals in Cincinnati and lost to Kim Clijsters. (Agencies)