This content was published 8 years ago. It may refer to a past edition of the Internazionali d’Italia.

Maria Sharapova is Internazionali BNL d’Italia champion again after overcoming a fierce battle in the scorching heat of Rome on Sunday afternoon.

The new world number two eventually moved away in the third set after two tense and close sets had put the result in doubt.

Sharapova eventually won 46 75 61 in two hours and 36 minutes on a day when temperatures were above 30 degrees.

Sharapova won the title in 2011 and 2012 but found the going tough early on with Suarez Navarro showing the attributes that made her one of the players of the week at the Foro Italico.

The Spaniard’s ability to stay in rallies had allowed her to beat Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep in a memorable week and she was able to get the better of the Sharapova serve in the first set.

But the Russian suddenly found some extra power in the second set and that allowed her to slowly but surely wear down her opponent eventually claiming the second, which could have gone either way, by a 75 scoreline.

Sharapova was able to continue the momentum she had gained in the final set and she proved just champion with the win in sight with a dominant performance as the match wore on.

The small at the end told its own story. Sharapova looks more than at home on previously her least favourite surface ahead of next week’s second Grand Slam of the year in Paris.