Maria Sharapova overpowers Caroline Wozniacki to claim the title – BNP Paribas Open 2013
In the battle between the two former world number one players, Russia’s Maria Sharapova came on the top to claim the BNP Paribas Open for the second time in her career. The second seeded blonde overwhelmed the Dane contender in
straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to come out as the champion. Her brilliant run at Indian Wells has not only ended her title drought of the 2013 WTA season but also propelled her to the world number two spot in the WTA Premier Rankings.
The one hour 21-minute battle witnessed Sharapova spilling more enforced errors than Wozniacki but she kept winning the crucial points to register victory. She was off to her usual aggressive start, breaking Wozniacki in the very
first game of the match and imposing a 2-0 lead right away. The eighth seed Dane held her next two serves before suffering another break of serve in the seventh game to fall back at 2-5. Sharapova wrapped up the first set at 6-2 to get the upper hand in the
contest.
The following set was a complete replication of the opening one, with the second seeded Russian breaking her opponent in the opening game to take the scores to 2-0. Another serve break in the seventh game left Sharapova serving
for the trophy at 5-2 and she comprehensively did it reign supreme over Wozniacki.
"The score line makes the match look a lot easier than it was - it was a tough match, a tough battle, and there were a lot of games that went to deuce and long games," Sharapova said. "Those games could have easily swung the other
way, especially some opportunities she had in the second set. I felt like I was always a foot ahead though, especially with the breaks - I served well today, and that helped me. She's someone who makes you hit so many balls if she has time, and that's not
the way I want to be and not how to control points. It was really important to take away that time she likes to have."
Sharapova will take the world number two position from Monday, whilst Victoria Azarenka slips to the third rank after failing to defend her Indian Wells title.
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