• AEGON Classic

Sharapova overcomes Riske

Maria Sharapova is seeking her third win in the AEGON Classic and will look to make use of her serve in the final © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Li trumps Sharapova for maiden grass title
  
• News: Sharapova powers past Karatantcheva
  
• Profile: Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova remains on course to claim her third AEGON Classic title, but she was made to work hard to see off Alison Riske 6-2 4-6 6-1 in their semi-final.

The Russian, a winner at Edgbaston in 2004 and 2005, is feeling her way back into form after a period out of the game with a serious shoulder problem. She has looked good on the grass in Birmingham and backed up her win over Sesil Karatantcheva in the quarter finals with victory over Riske.

Sharapova was totally dominant in the first set and it appeared as if she would roll over Riske with ease. The No. 2 seed was dominant on serve and the pressure told on Riske who was broken on two occasions.

Riske regrouped in the second set and a solitary break of serve enabled her to force a decider. The shock of losing her first set of the week stung Sharapova into action and she broke twice to wrap up the match in 95 minutes.

Sharapova will face Na Li in the final, after the Chinese star came through a topsy-turvy encounter with Aravane Rezai - winning 6-1 3-6 6-3.

Li breezed through the first set for the loss of one game, securing two breaks of serve, but the match swung back Rezai's way in the second as she found a way to combat Li's play from the back of the court.

No. 1 seed Li has been in fine form this year and dug in to her reserves and edged a tense final set courtesy of one break of serve.

At the AEGON International in Eastbourne, Heather Watson claimed a 7-5 6-4 win over fellow Brit Anna Smith in qualifying, but Katie O'Brien was beaten 6-4 7-5 by Yung-Jan Chan.

Naomi Broady won the first set of her qualifier with Jarmila Groth, but fell to a 3-6 6-3 6-0 defeat, but Jocelyn Rae claimed a superb 7-6(4) 6-2 win over Nina Bratchikova of Russia.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.