INDIAN WELLS - Third seed Maria Sharapova has beaten comeback queen Martina Hingis 6-3 6-3 to move into the final of the Pacific Life Open.
The Russian, who has not won a title since June, will face the winner of the semi-final between top-seeded Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne and number four
seed Elena Dementieva.
Sharapova gave a sterling performance against Hingis as she wore down her opponent in long rallies, ripped the Swiss player's second serves and bullied her from the forehand side.
Hingis tried to move the 18-year-old around the court but Sharapova, who was suffering with blisters, stayed in the points and put away any mid-court balls with aplomb.
"The score doesn't show how physically and mentally tough challenging every point was," said the russian, who fired 29 winners against only eight from Hingis.
"The quality of the match was very high level. Mentally, I told myself: 'It doesn't matter how many balls she gets, do everything possible to get one more ball back'."
Hingis was broken six times during the one hour 38 minute contest and only won 37 per cent of her second serve points.
Sharapova is now 2-1 against the Swiss player, losing their first meeting at Tokyo in February but then beating her in Dubai and at Indian Wells.
- REUTERS
