Maria Sharapova poses in a Porsche 911 Targa 4S after winning the Stuttgart title yesterday. The Russian beat Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final. (EPA)


AFP/Stuttgart


Maria Sharapova claimed a hat-trick of Stuttgart titles yesterday after coming from behind to win a three-set battle royal with Ana Ivanovic in the 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 win of her career before over-powering Ivanovic to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in just over two hours.
“That was a tough bit of work,” said Sharapova, who has won all four Grand Slam titles. “I have always believed in my chances and the fighting spirit is something that comes from within me.”
This was the first time Sharapova has claimed a third title at an individual tournament and comes on the back of last year’s shoulder injury.
“This time around it’s been extremely tough, that’s why this win is so special,” admitted Sharapova.
The Russian collects the winners cheque of 96,774 euros (US$133,896) and a brand-new sports car. “I will need to build a new garage to get all the cars in,” she joked as she collected her third Porsche sports car in as many years from the tournament director. 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.
Ivanovic, the ninth seed, made the statuesque Russian dig deep and the 26-year-old wasted no time asserting herself over Sharapova, racing into a a 5-0 lead in the first set before the defending champion responded, but the Serbian held her serve to take the first set.
Having won her previous tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, last month, Ivanovic went 3-1 up in the second but the match’s momentum turned against her when Sharapova broke her, then fought her way back to take the set.
Ivanovic had been chasing her first win over the Russian since the 2007 French Open semi-final, when she went onto lose to Justine Henin in the final, but the Serbian ran out of steam and sixth seed Sharapova showed her experience to win 11 of the last 13 games.

Nishikori wins Barcelona crown
Japan’s Kei Nishikori sealed his fifth career ATP title and first on clay yesterday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo to claim the Barcelona Open. Nishikori, who was playing for the first time on clay this week under new coach and former French Open champion Michael Chang, becomes the first non-Spaniard to win the event since 2002.


Meanwhile, boyfriend Dimitrov wins in Bucharest

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov won his second ATP title of the year yesterday when he defeated Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 in the final of Bucharest Open.
Ranked 16th in the world going into this week, Dimitrov, who previously had won in Acapulco where he defeated Andy Murray in the semi-finals, struggled against the big-hitting Rosol in the first set before taking charge.
“It feels good to have won,” said Dimitrov who now has three career titles. “I knew I had to lift my level, especially after the first set. Lukas is a very good player, who hit some outstanding winners.
“I have worked really hard to start winning titles. I have put in enough effort, time and sacrifices to get here.”