Former world number one Sharapova got off to a flying start in Sunday's final - winning the first four games of the match, with Stosur winning just 3 points in those games.

Australian Stosur managed to get herself on the scoreboard but Sharapova could not be stopped from taking the first set 6-2.

Sharapova broke immediately at the start of the second and looked set to romp to victory but Stosur, 27 managed to gather herself and started to produce the sort of tennis that saw her defeat French Open champion Schiavone earlier in the tournament to break back and open up a 2-1 lead.

There followed a few close games but Stosur could not win the crucial points and Sharapova fought her way back to a 4-2 lead which Stosur could not recover from. The last few games went with serve and Russian Sharapova served out for victory, sealing it with a trademark thumping forehand.

The win gives Sharapova her first title since Strasbourg in May last year and coupled with her win over current world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals here, sets her up as a real contender for the French Open which begins later this week.

"I surely wasn't the favourite going into a clay court event like this." said Sharapova after the match.

"To beat players who have had great results on clay means a lot to me. I may not be the best mover or best slider on clay, or the strongest player with the strongest legs, but there's a lot more than that in tennis."