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Sharapova and Zvonareva reach final

  • Story Highlights
  • Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva reach the Qatar Open final
  • Sharapova beats Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-3
  • Zvonareva defeats Chinese giant-killer Li Na 3-6 6-3 6-3.
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DOHA, Qatar -- Maria Sharapova will face her Russian compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the final of the Qatar Open on Sunday.

Australian Open winner Sharapova is still unbeaten in 2008.

Sharapova extended her unbeaten run in 2008 by defeating 18-year-old Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-3 in her semifinal, while Zvonareva halted Chinese giant-killer Li Na 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Sharapova took the ball early and forcefully, risking a few errors but creating constant pressure, a policy which particularly paid off during a crucial phase in the middle of the second set.

"It was a good opportunity for me to play someone who had beaten me," Sharapova said, referring to the fact that she had lost to Radwanska the last time they met, at the US Open in New York five months ago.

"Radwanska played well at the start of the match and I almost went 3-0 down," the fourth seed added.

"I had to play good tennis to get it back. It wasn't an easy match; it was quite tough out there, but I was able to do the job.

Sharapova had to work hard to move 5-3 ahead in the opener and wrapped up the set with her most impressive game, a service game to love, which included two fine first serves, setting up winners and an ace.

After exchanging breaks in the opening two games, the second set hinged on the fifth game, when Sharapova's threatening returns forced Radwanska to double fault and go love-40 down.

"I lost to Zvonareva the last time I played as well, so I don't want to lose to her again either," Sharapova said ominously.

Zvonareva, who looks to have recovered from a recent ankle injury, broke back for two-all in the second set and took nine points in a row to change the character of a contest which the heavy-hitting player from Wuhan had dominated.

Then, after going a break down again in the final set, Zvonareva hit a hot streak at the finish, dropping only six points in the last four games.

Li, who had beaten three top 20 players in the previous three rounds, eventually began to lose some of her consistency. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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