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Sharapova advances to Qatar final

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova and Russian compatriot Vera Zvonareva Saturday reached the finals of the $2.5 million Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha.

The fourth-seeded Sharapova, the reigning Australian Open champion, topped 16th-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-3 in their semifinal match.

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The three-time Grand Slam tournament victor won 71 percent of her first serve points and registered five service breaks in the 92-minute match to improve to 13-0 this season.

Zvonareva, who is not seeded, rallied to beat China's Na Li 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in her semifinal.

"It was a really tough match," Zvonareva admitted. "Even though I had a few unforced errors, I stayed aggressive and kept her from playing her game. I just kept fighting and in the end it worked out."

When she faces Sharapova in Sunday's final, she will carry a 4-3 edge in their all-time series.

The winner earns a first prize check of $414,000.

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