CARLSBAD, California -- After a three-week layoff following Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova is regaining her form.
The second-seeded Russian will face Kim Clijsters of Belgium in Sunday's final of the $1.34 million Acura Classic.
"I don't think my record against Kim is really good, so I'd definitely like to get a win on her," said Sharapova, who is 0-4 all-time vs. Clijsters.
Sharapova beat Patty Schnyder, 7-5, 6-4, in the semifinals on Saturday.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion, Sharapova has zipped through four pretenders without losing a set at this hardcourt warmup event for the U.S. Open later this month.
Clijsters, the top seed, beat No. 7 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) in the semifinals.
The victory extended Clijsters' match streak to 24 on summer hardcourt play in North America.
Though Clijsters has played well in Southern California, she has never won this hardcourt event, finishing runnerup to fellow Belgian Fed Cup teammate Justine Henin-Hardenne in 2003.<!--end leftcol -->
The second-seeded Russian will face Kim Clijsters of Belgium in Sunday's final of the $1.34 million Acura Classic.
"I don't think my record against Kim is really good, so I'd definitely like to get a win on her," said Sharapova, who is 0-4 all-time vs. Clijsters.
Sharapova beat Patty Schnyder, 7-5, 6-4, in the semifinals on Saturday.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion, Sharapova has zipped through four pretenders without losing a set at this hardcourt warmup event for the U.S. Open later this month.
Clijsters, the top seed, beat No. 7 Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) in the semifinals.
The victory extended Clijsters' match streak to 24 on summer hardcourt play in North America.
Though Clijsters has played well in Southern California, she has never won this hardcourt event, finishing runnerup to fellow Belgian Fed Cup teammate Justine Henin-Hardenne in 2003.<!--end leftcol -->
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