Sharapova Completes Career Grand Slam With 2012 French Open Win
On Saturday, Russian Maria Sharapova completed her career Grand Slam with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italy’s Sara Errani. Sharapova won in Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008, and four years later, the 2012 French Open women’s singles title. She is only the 10th woman to attain the feat, joining an elite group including Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Maureen Connolly, Shirley Fry and Billie Jean King.
"It’s the most incredible feeling. I don’t know what to say," said Sharapova after the match. "I’m so happy. I’ve worked so hard for this. It took a lot to get to this stage and even more to win it. There are so many tough days where you feel like giving up, but you don’t. It’s been such a journey to get to this stage again."
Sharapova becomes the first player ever, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title after undergoing shoulder surgery, a career-threatening shoulder issue that kept her out of action from August 2008-May 2009.
However, the day wasn’t a total loss for Errani, as prior to her women’s singles finals match with Sharapova, she, along with partner Roberta Vinci, defeated Maria Kirilenko & Nadia Petrova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to capture the 2012 French Open Women’s Doubles Title. If Errani had defeated Sharapova as well, she would have become the first woman since Mary Pierce in 2000 to capture both the singles and doubles title at the French Open.
Sharapova’s showing at Roland Garros will vault her back into the top spot atop the WTA Women’s Singles Rankings from number two, moving ahead of current world number one-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
