ISTANBUL, Turkey - Sunday's final in the Sinan Erdem Dome pits two perfect records and two former champions against one another, as Maria Sharapova takes on Serena Williams.
Sunday, Final
[2] Maria Sharapova (RUS #2) vs. [3] Serena Williams (USA #3)
Head-to-head: Williams leads 9-2
On Saturday afternoon on the banks of the Bosphorus, the tournament's two standout players, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, go head-to-head for the title. Both players have impressed en route to the final, Williams carrying on from where she left off at the US Open with a series of blistering performances, and Sharapova looking better with each passing round.
In a match-up between two great front runners and arguably the cleanest ball strikers on tour, making a good start in the final is of paramount importance. Williams, who often eases herself into tournaments, has come out all guns blazing from the first match, dropping just 25 games (and no sets) in a run to the final that has included World No.1 Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Central to her success has been an imperious return game - she has broken serve 19 times this week - and backed up by her usual ferocious serving, Sharapova is presented with an unenviable task. However, one thing certainly not lacking in the Russian is self-belief and if she can replicate the displays of controlled baseline aggression seen against Azarenka in the semifinal then she can trouble Williams.
The two have met on 11 previous occasions, with Williams coming out on top in the last eight. Five of these wins have been on hardcourts, although, interestingly, their only meeting indoors came at this tournament eight years ago and went the way of Sharapova.
Road To The Final
Maria Sharapova
Round Robin: d. Sara Errani, 63 62 (1:32)
Round Robin: d. Agnieszka Radwanska, 57 75 75 (3:12)
Round Robin: d. Samantha Stosur, 60 63 (1:06)
Semifinals: d. Victoria Azarenka, 64 62 (1:36)
Serena Williams
Round Robin: d. Angelique Kerber, 64 61 (1:18)
Round Robin: d. Li Na, 76(2) 63 (1:51)
Round Robin: d. Victoria Azarenka, 64 64 (1:36)
Semifinals: d. Agnieszka Radwanska, 62 61 (1:01)
