Maria Sharapova suffered a crushing loss in the final of the 2004 Zurich Open but now two years later she has exorcised those demons.

The second seed held on for a 6-1 4-6 6-3 triumph over unseeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova on Sunday in the final of this year's Zurich Open.

It was the fourth title this season for Sharapova, who has won 12 consecutive matches.

The 19-year-old Russian lost to Alicia Molik in the final here two years ago after taking the first set but maintained her focus Sunday.

The US Open champion, Sharapova did not drop a set in the US$1.34 million Tier I hardcourt tournament until the second set Sunday.

However, she went up a break early in the third set en route to her 14th career title.

Hantuchova, who upset third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday's semi-finals, made her first final appearance since last season in Los Angeles.

The 23-year-old has not won a title since 2002 at Indian Wells and fell to 1-5 lifetime against Sharapova.