Maria Sharapova beat Ana Ivanovic in the final of the Brisbane International in a display that bodes well for her chances at the Australian Open.
It has been seven years since Sharapova won her only Australian Open title but if she can take her form from Brisbane to Melbourne, a second title does not seem out of the question.
Sharapova had to work hard to beat Ivanovic, coming from behind to beat her 6-7 6-3 6-3 but the Serbian is a good measuring stick.
The top seed raced into 4-1 lead and had set points in the 11th game but second seed Ivanovic fought back to take the hour-long set 7-4 in the tie-break.
Sharapova earned early service breaks in the next two sets and held for victory, giving her the chance to overhaul Serena Williams for top spot in the rankings depending on results at the Australian Open, which starts on January 19.
Winning the Brisbane International provided Sharapova with her 34th WTA career title and her fifth in the last nine months, a red-hot span in which she also captured a second French Open and a first China Open.
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