Maria Sharapova overpowered Sara Errani to win the French Open final at Roland Garros for the first time and complete a career grand slam.
The 2012 tournament's
surprise package, Italian Errani never came up with an answer to
Sharapova's strategy of power and unerring ball placement as the Russian
produced 37 winner to secure a 6-3 6-3 victory.
As Sharapova motored into
a 4-0 lead in the opening set the final looked as it might be over in
the blink of an eye, but Errani got her toe in the match by breaking
Sharapova's serve to win the fifth game.
Errani, who is ranked
23rd in the world, showed plenty of grit to save two set points in the
eighth game, but when a third set point came up in the following game
Sharapova ruthlessly converted.
Italy's Errani refused to capitulate in the second set, but was never able to threaten the Russian's dominance.
As well as strength,
Sharapova's quickness of feet was a feature of an impressive
performance, notably when she sprinted to reach an Errani drop shot,
winning the point to take a 4-1 lead.
Errani saved two match
points in a game that the Italian produced a couple of the deftest drop
shots you could wish for, but the Italian's resistance was finally ended
when the Russian converted her third championship point.
It was the 25-year-old Russian's first grand slam title since she won the Australian Open in 2008.
Since then Sharapova's
career has been hampered by serious shoulder injuries that forced her
into a long rehab, but her winning form at Roland Garros will also see
the Russian move above Belorussian Victoria Azarenka to take the No. 1
ranking slot on Monday.
Saturday's victory
ensured Sharapova became just the 10th female player to complete a
career grand slam to emulate the the likes of greats such as Steffi
Graf, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Serena
Williams.
The Russian won her
first grand slam title at Wimbledon eight years ago, before going on to
win the US Open in 2006 and then then Australian Open four years ago.
"It's the most
incredible feeling," said Sharapova after her win in Paris. "I'm so
happy. I've worked so hard for this -- it took a lot to get to this
stage and even more to win it. There are so many tough days where you
feel like giving up, but you don't. It's been such a journey to get to
this stage again."
If Errani's impressive
performances at Roland Garros -- featuring wins over two former
champions and two members of the top 10 -- might not have had a
fairytale ending, those rankings will provide some consolation for the
Italian as she enters the top 10 for the first time.
"I don't feel like top
10, but I will be top 10, and it's incredible for me," said Errani, who
made only only hit 11 unforced errors during the final. "I really can't
believe it. I'm so happy for everything right now."
Victor Sharapova made a point of praising Errani's achievement in reaching the final.
"What an amazing
tournament," said the Russian. "I've watched you play the last two weeks
and the way you've performed. And the way you played today was
extremely difficult for me. I know it was our first meeting, and I hope
we play many more times."
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