Top-seeded Maria Sharapova made her way into the Acura Classic record books on Sunday afternoon, winning the final event to be held at San Diego’s La Costa Resort and Spa.
Sharapova overpowered 11th-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland by scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 to capture the weeklong event.
Before a capacity crowd of 6,500 on Stadium Court, the Russian sensation recovered from dropping the second set to pitch a shutout in the third.
Defending champion Sharapova used a crosscourt forehand winner to close out the match in just under two hours.
After 24 years, the event is closing its doors to San Diego tennis fans. The event will be relocated next year after promoters sold back the tournament rights to the WTA Tour. The win increased Sharapova’s career record to 6-1 against Schnyder with five of the matches reaching three sets.
With the U.S. Open slated for later this month in New York City, Sharapova said she wants to win the final Grand Slam event of the season.
“This win (Acura Classic) gives me confidence heading into the Open,” Sharapova noted.
She improved her 2007 match record to 31-8 in capturing her first singles title of the year and the 16th singles title of her career.
After winning the first set rather handily, Sharapova ran into a tougher foe in the second stanza.
Schnyder broke the champion’s serve twice in the second set to tie the match at a set apiece. Sharapova noted after the match that a fan in attendance motivated her in that second set.
Saying she wanted to acknowledge her top fan afterward, Sharapova said the person who yelled out during the second set that Schnyder had her (Sharapova) right where she wanted her sparked the top-seeded Russian.
“I love you whoever you are,” Sharapova said with a smile. “Whoever said, ‘Patty, you got her right where you want her’ really pumped me up.”
Sharapova appeared to pick up the pace in the deciding set and pumped her fist a number of times after finishing off winners.
Venus Williams, who looked strong in the preliminary rounds, was eliminated by Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.
