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Sharapova close to best in Madrid

  • Story Highlights
  • Marion Bartoli will finish the year in the world's top 10
  • She was called in as a late replacement at the WTA championships in Madrid
  • She played only 20 games and collected $97,000
  • Maria Sharapova overwhelms Ana Ivanovic 6-1 6-2
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MADRID, Spain -- Maria Sharapova was close to her best as she swept aside Ana Ivanovic 6-1 6-2 for her third and by far most impressive victory in the group stages of the WTA championships in Madrid.

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By topping the group Sharapova steered clear of Henin in the semifinals.

The former world number one almost completely dominated the Serbian who had won their two previous encounters.

By topping the Red group she qualified for a semifinal against Russian compatriot Anna Chakvetadze, steering clear of world number one Justine Henin, who will face Ivanovic.

Sharapova said: "I'm not really thinking about my chances. I know I can be capable on the court. I don't have to worry about who I play. If I play well I will be fine."

Sharapova appeared to have made a good recovery from long-term shoulder problems. Her ground strokes were impressive and she was accurate and speedy down the line keeping Ivanovic generally on the defensive.

"I thought it was solid from the beginning. I was just glad I could be out here and play as many matches as I can this year," Sharapova said.

"I am giving my all and I really wanted to win this match. I don't like losing twice in a row to the same player."

Marion Bartoli will finish the year in the world's top 10 after beating world number three Jelena Jankovic, who retired after one game of the second set of their group contest.

Neither player could advance but the success rounded off a strange week for the French player, who was drafted into the tournament on the third day as a replacement for Serena Williams, and failed to win a game against world number one Justine Henin.

With Jankovic pulling out after eight games on Friday, complaining of feeling unwell, Bartoli's part in the tournament was over after playing 20 games.

She left with a cheque for $97,000 earned at roughly $1000 a minute.

"It's been the strangest week for me," said the Geneva-based player from Le Puy in the Massif Central. "I heard at night that I would be the alternate for Serena Williams.

"I played Justine who had had two matches already and my goal today was to play better, and I did, but I am sorry for Jelena to end like that."

Bartoli broke Jankovic's serve at once, double faulted to drop serve for 2-1, and then began to dominate her hapless opponent.

At 1-4 down Jankovic called the doctor and took a ten-minute break. At the end of the set she told her coach Ricardo Sanchez. "I can't even move, I can't breathe."

Sanchez tried to urge her on but she responded: " I don't feel good, I have problems breathing,"

Having dropped serve in the first game of the second set she called a halt.

Bartoli said: "It's difficult to come back on court after such a tough match as I had against Justine but I am a champion and I tried to forget yesterday's match and put on a good show.

" I really wanted to enjoy this one because it's the last one and I wanted to have no regrets."

Bartoli's year did not start with any distinction and it was not until mid-March that she won consecutive matches.

She was ranked 25 in the world before things improved on the European clay.

She then played brilliantly to reach the Wimbledon final and, after reaching the world's top 10 for the first time last month, found herself playing in the season-end tournament for the first time. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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