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Sharapova advances as Golovin falls

Tatiana Golovin of France is attended to by her trainer after falling during her semifinals match against Maria Sharapova of Russia at the NASDAQ-100 Open at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Thursday. Golovin retired, handing Sharapova the match 6-3, 7-6, 4-3. PHOTO: EPA

Maria Sharapova blew a big lead, drew boos for taking a bathroom break and won only when opponent Tatiana Golovin was forced to retire in tears because of an ankle injury.

The hollow victory on Thursday earned Sharapova a berth in the final at the NASDAQ-100 Open.

Sharapova failed to convert four match points in the second set and played for another 75 minutes before Golovin twisted her left ankle and fell chasing a shot.

A trainer taped Golovin's ankle. The French teenager played one more point, hitting a return wide, then called it quits with Sharapova serving and leading 6-3, 6-7 (5), 4-3, ad in.

No. 4-seeded Sharapova 's opponent in the final today will be No. 12 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who advanced by beating top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo for the second time in five weeks, 6-1, 6-4.

Andy Roddick hit another bump in his bid to shake an early-season slump, losing to David Ferrer 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the men's quarterfinals. Roddick, who slipped from third to fourth in the rankings last week, has yet to reach a final this year.

"I feel a lot better leaving this tournament than I did a couple of days before this tournament," he said. "I feel like I'm on the verge of playing really good tennis again."

The loss cost Roddick a shot at top-ranked Roger Federer in the semifinals. Defending champion Federer rallied from a break down in the opening set and beat No. 9-seeded James Blake 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Federer extended winning streaks of 25 consecutive matches against Americans, 46 matches in a row in the US and a record 22 in a row in Masters Series events. He has reached the semifinals in his past 13 tournaments.

Like Federer, Sharapova is bidding for back-to-back titles after winning at Indian Wells. She's 2-2 against fellow Russian Kuznetsova, winning their past two meetings.

Roddick's biggest weapon -- the serve -- betrayed him against the 11th-seeded Ferrer.
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