Maria Sharapova claimed her second title of the year with a three-set victory over Jelena Jankovic in Cincinnati.
Russian makes amends for last year's defeat to Clijsters
Maria Sharapova claimed her second title of the year with a three-set victory over Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
The Russian world number four battled back from a set down to win 4-6 7-6 6-3 in an epic contest lasting just six minutes under three hours.
The Serbian world number 14 looked on course to regain the title she won two years ago after winning the opening set and leading 5-4 and 6-5 in the second.
But Sharapova displayed all her renowned fighting spirit to twice hold her serve and then win the breaker 7-3.
With both women tiring in baking temperatures, the first six games of the deciding set went against the serve, each time Sharapova breaking back after going behind.
But she held to lead 4-3 and then was gifted the next game as Jankovic served two double faults from deuce.
That proved decisive as Sharapova held again to win her 24th career title.
It is her first win in Cincinnati, coming 12 months after she led by a set in the final against Kim Clijsters only to go on to lose in three.
Physical
"It was a really tough one out there. It was so physical and in the end, it could have gone either way," said Sharapova.
"We kept breaking each other in the beginning. It felt like one of us played a few good points and than the other one and the levels were up and down throughout the match.
"So, I'm just fortunate that at the end of the day I'm the winner."
Sharapova also said victory in Cincinnati had given her confidence ahead of the US Open as she seeks a first grand slam title since the Australian Open in 2008.
"It's great to have a win under your belt going into a major, absolutely," she added.
"I played some good matches here and it's great to have this win. I came here wanting to play matches and wanting to raise my level, and I think I did that."
