Winds were swirling at 20 miles per hour but Maria Sharapova would not let that interfere with her game.
The 6-foot-2-inch Sharapova and 6-foot Dementieva bashed away from the baseline, controlling their ground strokes remarkably well

as they fought the winds and each other. Sharapova, who turned 19 on this day and ranks No. 5, had more success in keeping the rallies going

,which frequently had hits of 10 or more, until No. 8 Dementieva made a mistake. She made too many, 37 unforced errors to Sharapova's 25.
Sharapova was ''glad it's over. It was very difficult in the wind, but I feel great because it's been a long time since I've won,"
Dementieva was looking forward to a rematch in saying, ''this is the nice thing about tennis -- you always get another chance.

Maybe next week at Key Biscayne."

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