Sharapova Claims Pan Pacific Championship

Maria Sharapova claimed the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo thanks to her opponent Jelena Jankovic bowing out due to injury

It was Sharapova's first tournament title since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined her for 10 months. Sharapova took advantage of upsets throughout the tournament as world #1 Dinara Safina, as well as Venus Williams eliminated in the first round. The unranked Sharapova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in a hard fought three set match which was populated by numerous serve breaks to reach the quarterfinals, while Jankovic, the tournament's seventh seed swept by 15th seeded Na Li in two sets 6-4 and 6-3. Unfortunately, the matchup between two former top ranked players was short lived, as Jankovic had to quit down five games to two in the first set. Jankovic had taken the first two games of the set, but Sharapova rallied to win the next five, presumably aided by Jankovic's right wrist injury. "It was a tough start today. Jelena started off so strong," Sharapova told CNN.com "It was my second final of the year and I was a bit nervous.

"But I played well enough this week to know I could give her a good match. I just wanted to keep fighting out there and unfortunately Jelena had to stop,"