Sharapova Claims Tour Title

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova fought back from 4-0 down in the final set of the season-ending WTA Tour Championships to beat former world No1 Serena Williams in Los Angeles.

The Russian 17-year-old clinched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory by winning the last six games, capitalising on Williams' abdominal strain to claim the $1m first prize.

"It's been an amazing week, it's been an amazing year," said Sharapova, who will end the year with a career-best No4 world ranking. "This has been an extraordinary experience for me. I finished it off and I'm so happy."

It was Sharapova's second victory over her American opponent this year having overcome Williams in the Wimbledon final in July.

Williams grabbed the opening set with some wonderful play, but Sharapova took the second set with her powerful ground strokes.

The American appeared to injure herself after dropping her serve in the final game of the second set and she was attended to by the trainer.

Despite being unable to serve effectively, the six-time Grand Slam winner raced into a 4-0 lead at the start of the deciding set before the effects of the injury began to show, with Williams reduced to hitting soft serves at only 80mph.

Sharapova regrouped and gradually picked off Williams, levelling the scores at 4-4 when Williams double-faulted a 68mph second serve on break point.

After holding serve to love, Sharapova broke Williams again, completing victory with a glorious return before falling to the court in joy.