Sania runner-up in doubles
Stuttgart (Germany): Maria Sharapova claimed a hat-trick of Stuttgart titles after coming from behind to win a three-set battle with Ana Ivanovic in Sunday’s final.
Having won the 2012 and 2013 titles here, the 27-year-old Sharapova was made to work hard for her 13th consecutive win on Stuttgart’s clay courts for the 30th final victory of her career before over-powering Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in just over two hours.
“That was a tough bit of work,” said Sharapova. “I have always believed in my chances and the fighting spirit is something that comes from within me.”
It is the Russian’s first clay-court tournament in her build-up to the French Open, having lost to Serena Williams in last year’s final.
Meanwhile, Sania Mirza will have to wait for her first title of 2014 as she lost the summit clash of the doubles with partner Cara Black.
Playing their second final of the season, the second-seeded Indo-Zimbabwean pair lost 6-2, 6-3 to top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in one hour and 10 minutes in the final.
Sania had reached the Indian Wells final last month but there also she had ended runners-up with Cara.
Nevertheless, it was good start for Sania and Cara in the clay court season ahead of the French Open, which starts next month.
In men’s tennis, Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 6-2 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday for his first career title on clay.
It was the fourth-seeded Nishikori’s fifth career title on all surfaces and his second of the year.
This is the first time since 1996 that a non-Spaniard has won the title.
Top-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, meanwhile, defeated defending champion Lukas Rosol 7-6 (2), 6-1 to win the Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Romania, for his third ATP title. (Agencies)
