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.
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