16 Aug 2010

Rain halts final with Sharapova in control

9:43 am on 16 August 2010

Russia's Maria Sharapova missed a match-point chance just before rain halted her final against reigning US Open tennis champion Kim Clijsters at the Cincinnati Open this morning.

The 15th-ranked Sharapova led 6-2 5-3 and lost a break-point chance to the Belgian fourth seed just before rain stopped their final at the hardcourt event, a tune-up for the US Open that starts in two weeks.

The 23-year-old Sharapova, seeks her 23rd career title after earlier crowns this season at Memphis and Strasburg.

Clijsters, also seeking her third title in 2010, ended a two-year layoff at this event last year and went on the capture her second grand slam title at Flushing Meadows a month later.