Reuters, Madrid :
Maria Sharapova recovered from a woeful start and fought back to overwhelm rising talent Simona Halep 1-6 6-2 6-3 in the Madrid Open final and claim her 31st career title on Sunday.
Russian Sharapova, a former world number one, needed to draw on all her experience on clay in the Spanish capital to see off the 22-year-old Romanian fourth seed, who was appearing in the final of a premier event for the first time.
Sharapova missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury but her form suggests she may be a contender at the French Open which starts later this month.
By winning in Madrid, where she was runner-up last year to top-ranked American Serena Williams, Sharapova is projected to climb to number seven in the world when the rankings are updated on Monday.
“I don’t take these moments for granted because I know what it’s like to be out and injured and trying to find your way back just to play tennis,” she told a news conference.
“I like the work that I put in and I want to get the opportunities to be in the final,” added the 27-year-old, one of the best-paid athletes in sport who has her own clothing lines and a company that sells candy called Sugarpova.
“So it doesn’t matter if I’m playing on the moon or in Madrid, to be in the final position is an honour.”
