Svetlana Kuznetsova capped off an impressive run with a big win.

The 12th-seeded Russian came into the finals of the NASDAQ-100 Open on a roll and finished the event with a flourish, knocking off fourth-seeded countrywoman Maria Sharapova, 6-4 6-3, in the

6.9 million dual-gender event.

The 2004 U.S. Open champion, Kuznetsova stunned Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, the world's top-ranked player, 6-1 6-4 in the semi-finals.

Earlier in the tournament she saved a match point against resurgent Martina Hingis.

On Saturday, Kuznetsova was in complete control against the former Wimbledon champion.

She converted 3-of-6 break chances in the first set and raced to a 3-1 lead in the second before closing out Sharapova with an ace to cap the 90-minute match.

Sharapova was sluggish early, losing serve to fall behind, 3-1, in the first set and she never recovered.

It was the second consecutive year that Sharapova lost the final here and she also saw her 11-match win streak snapped.

Sharapova reached the finals with a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 4-3 triumph over Tatiana Golovin on Thursday night after the 22nd-seeded Frenchwoman retired with a left ankle injury.

Kuznetsova, 20, won her sixth career WTA Title and first since Bali in 2004 and improved to 3-2 lifetime against Sharapova.

She will move up to No. 10 in the new world rankings with American Venus Williams slipping to 11th.