Tokyo - Three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova will rise back into the Top 15 after winning her first title since spring, 2008, as Serb Jelena Jankovic retired trailing 5-2 with a wrist injury at the Pan Pacific Open Saturday. The Russian who stands 25th after spending the second half of this season returning after a shoulder injury which required several rounds of surgery, now owns 20 trophys in her career.
She improved to 20-8 overall in finals after the abbreviated 43- minute victory. It was her second title at the event which she won in 2005.
"It was a tough start today, Jelena started off so strong," said the winner. "It was my second final of the year (she lost in Toronto in the summer to Elena Dementieva) and I was a bit nervous.
"But I played well enough this week to know I could give her a good match. I wanted to keep fighting out there and unfortunately Jelena had to stop.
"I wish her a speedy recovery, and hopefully we can play again soon.
"To go from not knowing whether you'll ever play the sport again to holding a trophy, it's an unbelievable feeling.
"You realise what a gift it is to hit a tennis ball. I have put in so much work and this is just exciting."
Sharapova's last title came in April, 2008 in the US.
