• Sony Ericsson Open

Sharapova blazes past Petkovic to reach Miami final

Maria Sharapova has not played in Miami since 2007 © Getty Images

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Maria Sharapova shrugged off a slow start to romp past Andrea Petkovic to reach the Sony Ericsson Open final in Miami.

She will face Victoria Azarenka, who demolished third seed Vera Zvonareva to set up a final few would have predicted pre-tournament.

After being outmatched in the opening set, the former world No. 1 won 11 consecutive games to move within touching distance of victory, and although Petkovic put up a late fight, Sharapova sealed her place in the final with a 3-6 6-0 6-2 win.

Petkovic, who had already seen off Jelena Jankovic and world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki on her way to the last four, looked set to pull off another upset as she took the opening set in confident fashion.

However, three-time grand slam winner Sharapova got a much-needed break early in the second set, and the momentum tipped firmly in her favour as she bagelled her opponent to level the scores.

Sharapova, who lost in the final at Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006, hit top gear and began to dictate play, forcing her opponent to make a catalogue of errors.

Petkovic sent Sharapova crashing out at the Australian Open earlier this year, and although Petkovic put up a late challenge, Sharapova was in no mood to let her opponent repeat the feat as she wrapped victory in just over two hours. 

No. 8 seed Victoria Azarenka beat world No. 3 Vera Zvonareva 6-0 6-3 as she continues to come of age as a genuine top ten star.

The result, achieved in 76 minutes, went against the pair's past meetings as Azarenka won for just the third time in nine matches.

Azarenka, 21, broke her senior five times while yielding just 12 points, and no break opportunities, on her own serve in a surprisingly one-sided encounter.

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