US Open champion Maria Sharapova was scheduled to face Russian compatriot -- and defending champion -- Nadia Petrova in the Linz Open final here yesterday with the aim of wrapping up her fifth title of the season.
Top seed Sharapova, who won the Zurich Open last weekend, managed to overcome Swiss third seed Patty Schnyder 7-5, 7-5 in her semi-final.
Petrova, also with four titles under her belt this year, eased past Czech fourth seed Nicole Vaidisova 6-1, 6-2.
"I was a little tired mentally," Sharapova said.
"I never managed to get two or three games in a row," she said.
Schnyder's defeat also meant that the Swiss player missed out on a place in the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid.
Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis claimed the last two places in the event.
"We will see what sort of level we are at before the Masters," said world number five Petrova, who had already booked her place in Madrid.
Petrova, 24, claimed her first career title here last year.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
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