Russia's Maria Sharapova became the 10th woman in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam titles on Saturday 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 U.S. 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 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.
Great journey
“It's a magical moment in my career,” Sharapova said in French, before quickly reverting to English.
“It has been such a journey for me to get to this stage. Eight years ago it was my first breakthough Grand Slam and eight years later here I am.
“No matter how many Grand Slams you win ...if it was my only one it would be just as special as it would be winning my fourth."
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 and I can't believe it.”
It what was the first meeting between the two and the contrasts were stark — notably in height with the 1.88m tall Sharapova towering 24cm above the little Italian.
The 25-year-old Sharapova had the experience of winning three Grand Slam titles and has just been assured of regaining the world No. 1 spot. Her global superstar status has made her the biggest-earning sportswoman on earth.
Errani, 10 days younger than her opponent, was little-known outside of her own country until she won three claycourt titles in the build-up to Roland Garros in recent weeks. She then defeated two previous champions en route to a first appearance in a Grand Slam final.
Sharapova opened confidently on serve and then used her booming ground-strokes to pin back a tight Errani, breaking serve when the Italian hit long.
The Russian, playing in her first final at Roland Garros at her 10th attempt, moved 3-0 up and then converted a third break point to take a 4-0 lead.
Sharapova had made a dream start, but once again her propensity to double fault struck again, with two of them in the fifth game. She then hit a forehand narrowly wide on break point.
That seemed to settle Errani, who was bidding to become the second Italian winner at Roland Garros after Francesca Schiavone in 2010, and she pumped her fist at her team in the player's box after holding serve for the first time.
Errani saved two set points at 2-5 and 15-40 down on serve in the eighth game as she started to pull Sharapova from side to side, but the Russian, despite another double fault, served out for the set.
Sharapova broke again to open the second set and moved 2-0 up as the Roland Garros centre court faithful tried to lift the morale of the outgunned Italian.
She held serve to get to 2-1 down and then had a break point to level, only for Sharapova to hit the line with a forehand.
The fifth game of the set was crucial as Sharapova opened her shoulders to hit some big winners, converting her third break point to go 4-1 ahead when a net-charging Errani failed to deal with a hard, angled drive from the Russian.
Errani was not yet quite out of it however, as she won four points in a row from 30-0 down to break Sharapova's service for the second time.
The Russian though put that aside to win the next two games, sealing her career Grand Slam on her third championship point when Errani failed to return an angled backhand.
Djokovic chasing history
Meanwhile on Friday, men's World No.1 Novak Djokovic crushed third seed Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to reach a first Roland Garros final. On Sunday, history will be made as a win for Djokovic will make him only the third man to hold all four Grand Slam trophies at the same time.
“I am happy to be in the final here, it's always difficult to play against Roger,” said Djokovic, who had his 43-match winning streak ended by Federer at the same stage of Roland Garros 12 months ago.
“It's a dream to be in the final, but Rafa, who always plays so well here, will be the favourite.”
In a tight opening set, Federer had the first break to lead 3-2 but couldn't capitalise when Djokovic hit straight back.
The Serb then served two love games to lead 5-4 before the first set was his when Federer mis-hit a forehand which ballooned beyond the tramlines.
But the Swiss edged the early break in the second set in a game which featured a gruelling 36-shot rally won by Federer with a volley off a Djokovic ‘between the legs shot. The world No. 3 held to love and broke again for 3-0.
Djokovic then capitalised on a sloppy Federer service game to break back at 1-3 and held for 2-3 before the third seed steadied for a 4-2 advantage.
The Serb, who had confidently defeated Federer in the semi-finals on clay in Rome in straight sets just last month, was under siege again in his next service game, saving three break points.
In a topsy-turvy set, Djokovic broke for 4-4 but allowed Federer back in the driving seat to lead 5-4.
But the 16-time Grand Slam title winner couldn't shake off the world No.1 who broke again in the 10th game, backed up by a hold for 6-5 and then claimed the set courtesy of a loose backhand and a wild forehand by the Swiss. Djokovic was in the ascendancy now, breaking for 4-2 in the third and taking the match when Federer buried a backhand return into the net. Defeat ended Federer's hopes making a 24th Grand Slam final.
