Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates with the trophy after beating Vera Zvonareva of Russia during their final of the Qatar Open, a WTA Tour event, in Doha, yesterday. Sharapova won 6-1, 2-6, 6-0. - AP

DOHA, Qatar (AP):

Maria Sharapova stretched her unbeaten streak to 12 matches and won her 18th career title yesterday by defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 in the Qatar Open final.

The Australian Open champion is 12-0 this season, and 9-0 in her career in Doha, where she also won in 2005. Sharapova is also 2-0 in the Federation Cup this year.

Sharapova broke her opponent twice in the first set, but Zvonareva answered with two breaks of her own in the second before the fifth-ranked Russian swept the third.

"I played five matches in five days and that is not an easy thing to do," Sharapova said. "I think what I have done is just great."

The win earned Sharapova US$414,000, the largest amount on the WTA Tour outside the Grand Slams.

"She (Sharapova) stayed aggressive right throughout the match," Zvonareva said. "She didn't give me much of a chance."