Sharapova wins her first title of 2009 in Tokyo

Former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Saturday, after Serbia's Jelena Jankovic retired in the final due to a wrist injury.

MOSCOW, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia won the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Saturday, after Serbia's Jelena Jankovic retired in the final due to a wrist injury.

Sharapova was leading 5-2 in the first set when seventh-seed Janukovic was forced to pull out.

The 22-year-old Russian's previous title was at the Amelia Island tournament in Florida, in April last year. She had a shoulder operation last October and returned to competitive tennis in May this year.

"I've put in so much work. It's funny to win trophies after thinking maybe I might never be able to hit a tennis ball again," she said after the match.