Serena Williams powered her way to the French Open
title Saturday with a straight sets victory over defending champion Maria
Sharapova of Russia in a compelling final. Read more
The top seed from the United States ran out a 6-4 6-4 winner
in one hour 46 minutes to clinch her 16th grand slam crown.
Sharapova put up a brave fight but could not prevent
Williams from claiming her first French Open title since her maiden triumph in
2002.
The 26-year-old had not beaten her American opponent since
2004 and despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first set, then found Williams an
irresistible force.
Serving for the match, Williams took the first of two
championship points, clinching it with a thunderous ace, her 10th of a gripping
final.
"I was so nervous, I'm just happy to be champion,"
she told the capacity crowd on the Philippe Chatrier Court, speaking in French.
"I had a dream when I was 10 years old that I would win
the title here and talk to the crowd in French," she admitted after
lifting the Suzanne Lenglen trophy for the second time.
"I played a great tournament but ran into a really
tough champion today," said the beaten Sharapova, whose victory over Sara
Errani of Italy in last year's final completed her career grand slam.
Williams, who has been in superlative form on the Roland
Garros clay, crushed Errani in just 46 minutes in the semifinals to serve
notice of her intent ahead of the title match.
But Sharapova, herself an impressive winner over Victoria
Azarenka in the last four, made a fine start to break early and take the
initiative.
Culled from CNN
Culled from CNN
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