Sharapova completes slam in Paris
Source: AFP |
June 10, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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RUSSIA'S Maria Sharapova became the 10th woman in tennis history to win all four grand slam titles yesterday when she defeated Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open final.
In what turned out to be largely one-sided contest, the second seed and new world No. 1 led from the start, fixing the 21st seeded Errani with her biggest shots and giving her little chance to employ her own, more considered game.
The French Open title for Sharapova follows her grand slam triumphs at Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008 and it crowns her return from a serious shoulder injury that nearly wrecked her career.
The 90-minute Paris final though did little to restore the reputation of women's tennis at Roland Garros, continuing a run of straight-sets finals that date back to 2001 when Jennifer Capriati defeated Kim Clijsters in a three-set thriller.
"It's a magical moment in my career," Sharapova said in French, before reverting to English. "It has been such a journey for me to get to this stage. Eight years ago it was my first breakthrough grand slam and eight years later here I am."
Errani, when told that her runner-up finish would put her in the world top 10 for the first time, replied: "I don't feel like top 10, but I will be top 10, so it's incredible for me."
In what was the first meeting between the two, the contrasts were stark - notably in height with the 1.88-meter tall Sharapova towering 24 centimeters above the little Italian.
The 25-year-old Sharapova had the experience of winning three grand slam titles. Errani, 10 days younger than the Russian, was in her first appearance in a grand slam final.
In what turned out to be largely one-sided contest, the second seed and new world No. 1 led from the start, fixing the 21st seeded Errani with her biggest shots and giving her little chance to employ her own, more considered game.
The French Open title for Sharapova follows her grand slam triumphs at Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008 and it crowns her return from a serious shoulder injury that nearly wrecked her career.
The 90-minute Paris final though did little to restore the reputation of women's tennis at Roland Garros, continuing a run of straight-sets finals that date back to 2001 when Jennifer Capriati defeated Kim Clijsters in a three-set thriller.
"It's a magical moment in my career," Sharapova said in French, before reverting to English. "It has been such a journey for me to get to this stage. Eight years ago it was my first breakthrough grand slam and eight years later here I am."
Errani, when told that her runner-up finish would put her in the world top 10 for the first time, replied: "I don't feel like top 10, but I will be top 10, so it's incredible for me."
In what was the first meeting between the two, the contrasts were stark - notably in height with the 1.88-meter tall Sharapova towering 24 centimeters above the little Italian.
The 25-year-old Sharapova had the experience of winning three grand slam titles. Errani, 10 days younger than the Russian, was in her first appearance in a grand slam final.
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