Unseeded Milagros Sequera's surprising run to the Bell Challenge final came to a cruel end on Sunday.

Sequera was forced to retire from her first WTA Tour title match, giving second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia the second title of her career.

A Venezuelan who has spent most of her career on the developmental ITF Tour, the 23-year-old Sequera lost the first set 6-3, and dropped the first game of the second set.

She was unable to continue due to an ankle injury.

However, this was the most successful week of Sequera's career on the WTA Tour, so there is much to credit her for.

After appearing in her first tour quarter-final, Sequera upset sixth seed Marion Bartoli and top-seeded Mary Pierce in the semi-finals.

Starting this week at a career-high number 91, she will rise to the high 70s in the rankings released on Monday.

Sharapova already has two singles and a pair of doubles crowns in her young career.

The 16-year-old Siberian will move up to a new career-high of 31st in the world.

She also earned £19,000 after dropping just one set during the week.