Maria Sharapova had a disappointing start to the year, losing in the first round of the Australian Open to No. 58th ranked Maria Kirilenko in a battle of Russians. However, Sharapova showed better form in her 2nd tournament of the year, defeating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden, 6-2, 6-1 Saturday night for the championship of the WTA The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & The Cellular South Cup held in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Sharapova showed some of the form she displayed when she was on top of the WTA Tour, not losing a set in five rounds. Sharapova picked up her first title on the comeback trail after recovering from last year’s shoulder injury.
”Coming in here I asked for matches,” Sharapova said. ”I got five of them and I got the win. I’m certainly happy and felt like I played consistent tennis throughout the week and did the right things against all my opponents.”
Sharapova was consistently dominant in taking out her opponents, with Saturday’s match supplying the exclamation point. From the time she broke serve in the sixth game of the first set, there was no doubt Sharapova was headed to her 21st career title, and first since winning in Japan last year.
Sharapova will jump three spots to No. 13 when the new rankings come out Monday, her highest ranking since Jan. 19, 2009.
