Updated

Beijing, China (SportsNetwork.com) - Fourth seed Maria Sharapova captured the China Open by beating No. 3 seed Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Sunday.

Sharapova, the reigning French Open champion, earned her fourth title of the year and will rise two spots to No. 2 in the world come Monday. That's only behind Serena Williams.

The last championship from the Russian came at Roland Garros this year. With the latest victory, Sharapova will surpass Simona Halep and Kvitova in the rankings.

Sharapova moved to the final without dropping a set, but faltered in the second set against Kvitova on Sunday. Kvitova, who reached the final at Wuhan last week, won the second set in 43 minutes by pushing 15 winners.

In the third, though, Kvitova double-faulted four times and Sharapova finished the encounter by drilling a huge serve that the Czech backhanded into the net. The victory netted Sharapova $918,000.

"It was a bit of an up-and-down match I'd say - maybe not the best out of the tournament," Sharapova said. "But it's never easy playing against Petra. You don't always quite get a good rhythm. She goes for a lot of shots, very deep, and she's a very good, confident player."

Sharapova, who also won championships at Stuttgart and Madrid, moved to 6-2 lifetime against Kvitova. That includes five straight wins. The two met once earlier this year, with Sharapova capturing a 7-5, 6-1 win in the Miami quarterfinals.

Kvitova had won the lone previous meeting in a final, claiming a 6-3, 6-4 triumph at Wimbledon in 2011 for her first career Grand Slam crown.

"I was tired, but it was a final, and every time I'm playing a final, I'm giving everything I have inside," Kvitova said. "What I did today was a great battle. It was small things and small points that make the difference in the end. I had some chances, but Maria just didn't let them go."