Shoulder injury forces Sharapova to withdraw

PHILADELPHIA -- Amelie Mauresmo plotted strategy, practiced and prepared for her semifinal match at the Advanta Championships. Then she got an unexpected hitch -- her match was off. Maria Sharapova was pulling out.

"I would have loved to have played the match," Mauresmo said before smiling, "but I'll take it."

Top-seeded Mauresmo advanced to the Advanta final Saturday after Sharapova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, withdrew from their semifinal match with a strained right shoulder.

Mauresmo will take on sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva, who defeated seventh-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Sharapova hurt her shoulder two weeks ago at the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich. She aggravated the injury her quarterfinal Friday night against Alicia Molik.

"I'm very disappointed I am not able to continue my play in Philadelphia," Sharapova said. "I was having a really good tournament and I'm sure it will still be an exciting final weekend."

Mauresmo said she needed the break to help with some tightness in her left leg.

The rest gave Mauresmo, ranked second, yet another edge heading into the finals -- she has a 4-0 career mark against Zvonareva.

"I just have to go on the court, enjoy myself and do the best that I can," Zvonareva said.

She could have a chance if she starts as quickly as she did against Petrova.

Zvonareva, ranked 11th, had some added confidence after a quarterfinal victory a night earlier against Jennifer Capriati. She said that helped her early in the match against her fellow Russian, when she took the final three games of the first set.

Zvonareva continued to cruise, taking a 5-2 lead in the second set before a slew of errant hits and unforced errors allowed Petrova to catch up. Zvonareva got flustered when it was 5-4, smacking her racket against the court and shouting to herself as she headed to her seat for a crossover.