Gym work pays off for Sharapova

MARIA SHARAPOVA claimed she had reached a new physical peak after overpowering Justine Henin-Hardenne to capture the US Open title.

The Russian stepped up her workload in the gym after bowing out in the last four at Wimbledon in July.

And duly the third seed added the New York title to her 2004 Wimbledon triumph by beating Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-4 at Flushing Meadows.