Scolding herself to "fight, fight, fight" in the third set, Maria Sharapova outlasted top-ranked Lindsay Davenport 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at the WTA Championships on Thursday night, with both players advancing to the semifinals. Amelie Mauresmo of France defeated Russian Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-3 to ensure a spot in the semifinals, along with Frenchwoman Mary Pierce, who was idle Thursday.
Sharapova, the defending champion, needed three match points before closing out the 2-hour, 8-minute match with a 107-mph ace. The 18-year-old Russian dropped her racket, raised her arms and soaked in the crowd's applause. "I played smart tennis," she said. "I took out her strengths. It was exciting to beat someone who's been playing such amazing tennis. I'm very, very happy about it."
Davenport walked off the court, shook the umpire's hand and had her back turned by the time Sharapova caught up to her on the sideline for a halfhearted handshake. "I wasn't mad," Davenport said. "She is a little dramatic when she wins and it takes her a while to get to the net."
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