Speed-loving Sharapova spurred to raise level and beat Hantuchova in Zurich final

Maria Sharapova loves speed, fast cars and rollercoasters. She hates traffic and running on foot, or anything else that can slow her down.

Photo: Speed-loving Sharapova spurred to raise level and beat Hantuchova in Zurich final

So it really got her goat when she surged through an easy first set against Daniela Hantuchova in Sunday's final of the Zurich Open, but stalled in a sluggish, error-filled second set.

That raised the Russian's levels of frustration and aggression enough to spur her into quickly breaking Hantuchova in the final set to win 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 and earn her 14th career title, and fourth this year.

"I like it when things go fast," Sharapova said, shifting her seat at the post-match press conference, which she also seemed to hope would end quickly.

Especially when she was faced with the pesky question of why she'd frequently called on hitting partner Mike Joyce for advice during her matches here, after saying earlier in the week she doesn't support the idea of on-court coaching and would only resort to it if "desperate."

Zurich is one of the five tournaments this season where the WTA Tour is testing out the idea, but during breaks and only once a set.

"Well, I don't support it, but if it's there and I feel I need a little reminder then why not?" retorted Sharapova, who dropped only one set in Zurich. "If it isn't illegal, you may as well use it while you can."

Sharapova, whose coach and father Yuri has a history of trying to assist her from the stands, received a warning in her semifinal against Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik, when he shouted something from the sidelines.

At the U.S. Open, where on-court coaching is forbidden, her father and Joyce sent apparent hand signals to her. After her second Grand Slam victory, Sharapova said they were reminders to drink fluids.

Oddly, Sharapova isn't busting to end the season as the world No. 1 for the first time, reports AP.

Sharapova first became No. 1 in August 2005, and spent seven of the following eight weeks atop the rankings. She has a chance to end this season atop the rankings.

Amelie Mauresmo, who withdrew from the Zurich Open with a shoulder injury, and second-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, who hasn't played since mid-September because of a knee problem, still head the rankings from the U.S. Open champion.

Mauresmo leads Sharapova by 600 points, but many of the Frenchwoman's points will expire before this season ends.

To finish No. 1, Sharapova needs to win next week in Linz, Austria, and at the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid, Spain, while hoping Henin-Hardenne fails to reach the WTA final.

Neither Henin-Hardenne nor Mauresmo are expected to play before Madrid.

"Becoming No. 1 is a huge achievement, but I don't personally think ending the season as No. 1 is a huge deal," said Sharapova. "I honestly can't remember who finished last year No. 1. You remember who won the Grand Slams and who has been No. 1, not who finished the year No. 1."