AU: Sharapova Finalist

Women’s No.1 seed Maria Sharapova is through to her first Australian Open women’s final after blitzing No.4 seed Kim Clijsters in straight-sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Sharapova had been a semifinalist in Melbourne for the past two years, but finally cleared that hurdle at her third attempt. She ended Clijsters’ Melbourne Park campaign with 6-4/6-2 win.