Sharapova completes career Grand Slam with French Open win

Maria Sharapova defeated Italy’s Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 on June 09 to win the French Open and complete a career Grand Slam sweep.

Sharapova, 25, who returns to the world number one ranking on Monday, added the Roland Garros title to those she claimed at Wimbledon 2004, the US Open 2006 and the Australian Open four years ago.

Sharapova claimed the win on her third match point after saving a break point in the final game.

The LA-based Russian, who battled back from shoulder surgery after winning her last major, was dominant in her first meeting with the 24th-ranked Errani, winner of the women’s doubles title and a force on clay this spring with three WTA titles.

Errani sprang to prominence during the clay fortnight but failed to follow on from the 2010 title of compatriot Francesca Schiavone.

Errani beat three former Grand Slam champions -- Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Samantha Stosur on her way into the final. She and Sharapova had never played.

Second seed Sharapova, winner of clay trophies in Stuttgart and Rome this year, has played the final at three of the last four Slams, finishing runner-up at 2011 Wimbledon to Petra Kvitova and at the Australian Open against Victoria Azarenka. The Russian has reached the final in six of her eight WTA events this year and stands 3-3 in 2012 finals.