Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova [Images] swept past Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova [Images] 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach the final of the $600,000 Qatar Open.

The second-seeded Russian now meets Australia's Alicia Molik [Images], who gained revenge for last week's Antwerp defeat by knocking out top seed Amelie Mauresmo of France [Images] 7-6, (13-11) 6-1.

Sharapova broke Hantuchova in the third and fifth games to take the first set.

It was a more even contest in the second until Sharapova broke serve in the ninth game to set up victory.

"I am excited to be in the final," the 17-year-old said. "I am happy with my game and form and I am looking forward to playing Alicia in the final.

"I am confident that I will play well."

Fourth seed Molik came out firing on all cylinders after her match against Mauresmo was interrupted for five hours by persistent rain with the score 3-3 in the first set.

The tiebreak was intense with both players saving five set points before Mauresmo hit two successive returns into the net at 11-11.

"I somehow always expected to stay until the weekend here. I am not surprised to see myself in the final," said Molik.

"I must say I had to fight hard to win this match but I was always in the comfort zone so much that I could have played another two sets out there."

Mauresmo committed a series of unforced errors in the second set and paid the price.

She said: "I was mentally and physically tired after the first set. But I must say she played really well and deserved to win today.

"It was just one of those days when I couldn't win."

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