Sharapova survived her first clay court title

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova survived a second straight three-set marathon at the Bausch & Lomb Championships in her proffer for her first clay court title. Sharapova was pushed by 10th-seeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine to win 6-7 (9), 6-3, 6-2 in a nearly three-hour quarter-final.

In semifinals, Sharapova will face three-time champion Lindsay Davenport, who defeated No. 8 Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-4, 7-6 (3). Sharapova and Davenport last met at the Australian Open, where Sharapova won 6-1, 6-3 in the second round on the way to her third Grand Slam title.

As this is Sharapova's first trip to Amelia Island, Davenport has through it to the final in her last three appearances.