Indian Wells (USA): Third-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova defeated fourth-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday to win the WTA Indian Wells title.
Sharapova, the glamour girl who shot to prominence with her Wimbledon victory in 2004, captured her first tournament title since Birmingham last June.
With her 19th birthday still a month away, Sharapova claimed her 11th WTA title, showing patience and maturity in coping with the blustery winds that contributed to a stream of errors from both players.
Sharapova, who is expected to move up a spot to No. 4 in the world thanks to the victory, said she tried mostly to keep the ball in court and await her chances to attack.
"I tried to get the balls in. A lot of balls, you didn't know which way they were going," she said. "I just tried to get the ball in play, hit it deep, get in the point rather than try and hit a winner.
"I don't think either of us could have played great tennis," Sharapova added. "I honestly don't think you're ever going to play great tennis in these kind of conditions."
"But on these kind of days, it's not about playing great tennis. It's about finding a way to win."
Dementieva agreed that Sharapova just coped better.
"It was very difficult to play today," Dementieva said. "Maria was able to handle the situation better. But I still feel like it was a great tournament for me, big win yesterday," Dementieva added.
"Even that I lost today 6-1, 6-2, I feel like I have a game to beat her - but not today."
Once and for all Sharapova erased the memory of her 6-0, 6-0 semi-final defeat by Lindsay Davenport in the same tournament last year.
Her six victims en route to the title - and a winner's cheque of $332,000 - included five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis in the semi-finals.
Dementieva, the world No. 8 who engineered a stunning comeback to beat top-seeded Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals, was on the back foot early - dropping all four of her service games in the opening set.
She won the first two games of the second set, but Sharapova squelched any thought of another remarkable rally by winning the next six games.
"I don't think there was one particular game that changed anything," Dementieva said. "I just don't think it was my day today."
Sharapova, who was slowed last summer by a strained pectoral muscle, admitted that the victory was welcome proof that she was close to putting the injury behind her.
"Honestly, I was having a really tough end of the year last year," she said.
"Tournament after tournament, I was working hard, trying to get back in shape and all of a sudden my injury would bring me down again. I guess you just never know when the hard work will pay off," she said.
"It's definitely good to see that it did pay off today."
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