21 Aug 2011

Sharapova sets up Jankovic showdown

4:23 pm on 21 August 2011

Russia's Maria Sharapova will face Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the Cincinnati Open tennis final after the pair enjoyed solid victories in their semi-finals.

Sharapova recovered from a poor start to beat fellow Russian and world number two Vera Zvonareva 2-6 6-3 6-3 to reach her fourth final of the season while Jankovic beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 7-6 6-1.

Sharapova, ranked seventh in the world, will play for her 24th career title and second of the season following her victory in Rome but she had to come back from dropping the opening set against Zvonareva.