Maria Sharapova peaked at just the right time on Sunday to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2 and win her second Indian Wells WTA title in emphatic style. The 25-year-old Russian, already projected to supplant Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at No 2 in world rankings by reaching her first final of the season, broke Wozniacki twice in each set en route to the victory in one hour and 21 minutes.
The win in a match between former champions gave her a second title to go with the Indian Wells crown she claimed in 2006. It was Sharapova's first title since her 2012 French Open triumph gave her a career Grand Slam, and stretched her streak of years with at least one title to 11. "This is what I do all the work for is these moments," a beaming Sharapova said. "You feel like everything has paid off."
Sharapova put her foot on the gas early with a break in the first game and didn't let up, firing winners off both wings and peppering Wozniacki with four aces. "It's the final. You have to be on from the first point," she said. "I didn't feel like I played my best tennis in the beginning of the tournament, but sometimes it's the way it works.