Sharapova sinks Serena in thrilling final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-16 14:33

Teenager Maria Sharapova capped her stunning year by overcoming an injured Serena Williams 4-6 6-2 6-4 in the final of the season-ending WTA Tour Championships on Monday.

Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts after winning a game during the third set against Serena Williams in the final match of the WTA Tour Championships at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Monday, Nov. 15, 2004. Sharapova won, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. [AP]

"I'm still in shock. I can't believe the way I pulled it out," said the 17-year-old Russian, who fell to the ground and screamed in joy at the end of a contest lasting one hour 46 minutes.

"It's very unreal the way I stuck in there. It's been an amazing year."

After falling behind 4-0 in the third set, the Wimbledon champion reeled off six games in a row to overpower a hobbling Williams.

The American took a medical timeout for treatment on an abdominal strain after the seventh game of the second set.

Serena Williams (news) gets her stomach bandaged during the third set against Russia's Maria Sharapova (news) in the final game of the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles Monday, Nov. 15, 2004. Williams strained an abdominal muscle during the second set. [AP]

After returning to the court 5-2 down, Williams lost about 40 mph from her service speed and had trouble moving to her right.

Sharapova easily closed out the second set but, in the third, Williams began to go for broke off the ground and cracked winners to all angles of the court to storm into a 4-0 lead.

The young Russian eventually took a foothold in the final set when she held serve at 4-0 and, with Williams wilting, she hit back to seal a victory which earned her $1 million.

Russia's Maria Sharapova hugs the trophy after defeating Serena Williams, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the final game of the WTA Tour Championships at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 15, 2004. [AP]

Sharapova, who now moves to a career-high number four in the world rankings, also became the first champion from Russia and only the second player to win the title on her debut in the event.

Serena lifted the trophy on her first appearance in 2001.

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