From 3-3 in the second set, Sharapova ran off the last three games again, breaking Ivanovic for the fourth time to finish the match.
Sharapova dropped to her knees and appeared to be fighting back tears as she waved and blew kisses to the crowd. She shook hands and exchanged high fives with her father and supporters.
Sharapova wished her mother, Yelena, a happy birthday and told her how she planned to spend some of her A$1.37 million (US$1.21 million) prize money.
"With this big fat check, I'm going to send you a bunch of roses," she said. "Last year I lost on her birthday and this year I said I'm going to make it up to her, and I did."
The Russian star said when her coach and hitting partner Michael Joyce's mother died, it helped her cope with the hard times.
"I want to dedicate this win to her because after the loss [Joyce] suffered, I got a whole lot of perspective with my injuries and setbacks. It helped me prioritize so many things that were outside of tennis," Sharapova said.
RSS