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World No. 2 Maria Sharapova from Russia came from behind to beat compatriot Elena Dementieva 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Friday, advancing to the final of the Champions Challenge exhibition in Hong Kong, a warmup for the Australian Open.
A rusty Sharapova lost serve four times as she conceded the first set. She broke Dementieva, world No. 8, twice in the second set to go up 3-0, but lost the next two games. Leading 5-2, she needed six set points to take the second set.
The final set went on serve until the fifth game, when Sharapova broke her countrywoman to lead 3-2. Dementieva broke back, only to have her serve broken again.
Down 3-5, Dementieva double faulted to give Sharapova match point, then netted a backhand to lose the match.
Despite her loss, Dementieva put on an impressive display of clean, heavy hitting. She said after the match she was let down by her weaker serve.
Sharapova called her tough match Friday good preparation for the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 15. The Russian had a tough 7-5, 6-3 win over Chinese doubles specialist Yan Zi Thursday.
"To be in that situation, to get out of it, to come up with a win, I think that's definitely going to help me," she said.
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The Champions Challenge is Sharapova's only tournament before the Australian Open. The reigning U.S. Open champion and Wimbledon winner in 2004 said Friday she doesn't like playing the week before a Grand Slam tournament.
Sharapova faces the winner of the other semifinal between Belgium's Kim Clijsters and Switzerland's Patty Schnyder, to be completed later Friday.
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Meanwhile, in the losers playoff semifinals, world No. 166 Yan stunned World No. 10 Nicole Vaidisova 7-5, 6-3 for the biggest win of her career. The Chinese player won the Australian and Wimbledon doubles titles last year with compatriot Zheng Jie but has enjoyed little success in singles' play.
Vaidisova was hampered by a finger injury sustained when she fell in the shower but said after the match the effect was more psychological than physical.
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