US Open: Maria shocks off-key Mauresmo

Maria Sharapova reached her second Grand Slam final with a three-set win over top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the US Open semi-finals on Friday.
The Russian, seeded third, beat an out-of-form Mauresmo 6-0 4-6 6-0 in one hour 35 minutes.

Sharapova swept through the first set in just 24 minutes and, after losing a tight second, was back at her best as she dominated the decider.

She will meet second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne in Saturday's final.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion went into the match having lost all three of her previous matches against Mauresmo, as well as five successive Grand Slam semi-finals.

However, suggestions before the match that she was not capable of getting past the semi-final stage in majors did not hold the 19-year-old back.

She raced through the first set, breaking immediately as Mauresmo struggled for rhythm from the baseline and going on to take a love set.

The world number one improved in the second set, but it was still something of a surprise when she broke to level the match by converting her third set point.

Now it was a test of mental strength for Sharapova, who had lost in three to Mauresmo in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

This time she took the initiative, breaking in the first game thanks in large part to a Mauresmo double fault and a faltering forehand.

Sharapova stormed through the rest of the set in even more impressive form than she had shown in the opener, and wrapped up the victory with a trademark backhand winner.