Sharapova prevails at Wimbledon

Maria Sharapova, who will play for the Newport Beach Breakers for a

second straight year in World Team Tennis, dramatically defeated

two-time defending champion and top-seeded Serena Williams, 6-1, 6-4,

Saturday to win the Wimbledon singles title at age 17.

Sharapova, the No. 13 seed and the first Russian to win a

Wimbledon singles crown, became the third youngest women’s champion

in history. Sharapova overcame a 4-2 deficit in the second set.

Williams broke Sharapova’s serve, to go up, 4-2. But Sharapova broke

back, quickly regaining control of a match that belonged to her.

After Williams hit a forehand into the net to end the match,

Sharapova dropped to her knees and covered her face with both hands.

Later, she walked into the stands to hug her father. She tried to

call her mother on a cellphone but could not get through.

“Thank you for giving me a tough match, but I’m sorry I had to win

today,” Sharapova told Williams, while being interviewed by a BBC

reporter.

Sharapova is the lone returner for the Newport Beach Breakers.

Sharapova will play two home matches for the Breakers at Palisades

Tennis Club on July 14 against the Sacramento Capitals and July 17

against the Kansas City Explorers.

The Breakers open their season Monday night at 7:30 at Palisades

Tennis Club.