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Russian superstar Maria Sharapova has joined the all-time greats of tennis with a straight-sets French Open final triumph over Sara Errani.
Sharapova’s 6-3 6-2 cakewalk over the outclassed Italian gave the 25-year-old a coveted career grand slam and penned another memorable chapter in one of sport’s most inspiring comeback tales.
Languishing at a depressing 126th in the world upon her return from career-threatening shoulder surgery in May 2009, Sharapova feared her career may have been over.
Three years on and the dogged baseliner will reclaim the top ranking on Monday from Victoria Azarenka after adding an elusive Roland Garros crown to her teenage breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2004 and 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open successes.
And all this after the highest-paid and most-photographed women’s athlete on the planet once famously likened her movement on clay to “a cow on ice”.
Sharapova’s 89-minute victory places her alongside Australia’s all-time grand slam leader Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Billie-Jean King, Serena Williams, Maureen Connolly, Doris Hart and Shirley Fry as only the 10th player to win all four majors.
“I’m really speechless. It’s been such a journey for me to get to this stage,” Sharapova said.
“No matter how many grand slams you win, to win here and to win this one, if it was my only one it would be just as special as it is winning my fourth.”
Sharapova paid tribute to her team, especially her parents.
“They are my rock that keep me together, that keep me up every single day, that kept me going through the tough days and the good.”
Red-faced officials committed a French faux pas during the presentation ceremony when they introduced the newly-crowned champion as the runner-up.
As Errani laughed and raised her arms in triumph to the packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sharapova looked stunned but then smiled.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the runner-up Maria Sharapova,” the announcer said.
To jeers and whistles from the crowd, a correction was quickly issued.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the runner-up Sara Errani.”
The Italian then collected her trophy from former champion Monica Seles before Sharapova was called to the podium as champion to receive the winner’s trophy.
The $1.6 million winner’s cheque also sent the second seed’s prize money earnings through the $20 million barrier.
Errani had swept past four seeds, including Australia’s highly-rated Samantha Stosur in the semi-finals and former champions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic earlier in the tournament, to arrive at her maiden grand slam final.
Riding high from a tour-best 24 wins from 27 claycourt matches in 2012, Errani was bidding to become only the third non-top 10 player in history to raise the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in Paris.
But the 21st seed was simply unable to match Sharapova’s back-court firepower.
Errani barely won a point in the opening four games as Sharapova charged to a 4-0 advantage in less than 15 minutes.
The Italian managed to claw one break back and saved two set points in the eighth game, but Sharapova eventually clinched the opening set with an inch-perfect backhand down the line.
The Russian immediately broke Errani in the first game of the second set, consolidated for 2-0, tightened the screws with a fifth service break for 5-2 and broke out in tears of joy after closing out the match in one hour on her third championship point.
Errani, who won the doubles title with countrywoman Roberta Vinci on Friday, will break into the world’s top 10 for the first time following her fairytale run to the final.
She also took home a runner-up prize of $A800,000 – plus $A217,500 for the doubles.
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