Heavy rain interrupted the final of the Rome Masters on Sunday with Maria Sharapova and China's Li Na locked at one set apiece and entering a deciding tie-break in the third.
The 25-year-old defending champion had recovered from a set down and 4-0 down in the second to take six games straight.
Sharapova went 4-1 up in the third set before Li mounted a comeback of her own to take the score to 6-6.
The heavens opened before the tie-break could start.
The match was stopped once due to rain, but when Li slipped the referee ruled it be postponed.
By that time Sharapova already made 10 double faults, twice as many as her opponent. Both players were successful at break points, but the Russian had 13, two more than Li.
Sharapova seeks to stretch her lead against the Chinese No. 1 to 7-4. The Russian crushed her 6-3, 6-0 in their last match at the Miami quarterfinals.
Last year Sharapova beat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
