STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Defending champion Maria Sharapova rallied in the third set to beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 Saturday and earn a spot in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix.
Sharapova will play either second-seeded Li Na or qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the title in the indoor clay-court tournament Sunday.
The top-seeded Russian committed two consecutive double-faults to drop her serve at the start of the decisive set. But Sharapova won the last eight points and clinched the match when her third-seeded German opponent hit a backhand long.
Sharapova had wasted a chance to serve out the match in the ninth game after taking a 5-3 lead.
After winning in Stuttgart last year, Sharapova went on to win the French Open to complete her career Grand Slam.
