In one corner the small build but fierce Italian Errani with excellent net skills (she won the doubles titles with Vinci, just the day before the final!).
In the other corner the giant Sharapova, not only by height but also by performance (three Grand Slam titles already!) and ball-striking capacities.
Let the match begin:
Sharapova started with flawless play and quickly led 4-0. I really started to wonder: if this was her worst surface, how the hell would she play on grass and hardcourt?! Her return was deadly, combined with magnificent winners down the line.
At 4-0 Sharapova's serve stumbled with two double faults that handed Errani 3 breakpoints. By finally getting on the scoreboard, Errani played more freely and managed to grab her own service game: 4-2.
Still, Sharapova wasn't impressed at all and knocked her way to setpoints at 5-2 and 5-3 and finally got the first set: 6-3.
The Russian battled further with her fast paced and well placed balls. Errani showed some of her incredible doubles skills in the second set but she couldn't stop Sharapova from taking another early break to lead: 2-0. It was 4-1 before Errani could force a rebreak to take it to 4-2. But Sharapova wasn't lingering about her bad game and raced to 5-2 and matchpoints on her own serve.
What followed were phenomenal points where Errani saved two matchpoints with dropshots, while Sharapova aced to another championship point.
And then the third matchpoint proved to be the right one: 6-2! Sharapova fell to her knees like she did in Wimbledon and started her victory celebrations.
She got her Career Grand Slam! You know, she's just the tenth women in history to accomplish that. And as any Grand Slam victor these days, she climbed (gracefully, it's Sharapova after all!) to her coach and box. (It's hilarious how that guy on the left above doesn't help at all!)
Meanwhile Errani was left with dealing with her loss.
What got her to smile was actually a technical fail when announcing the players. The French voice called Sharapova on the stage as runner-up. The Russian had a good laugh while Errani celebrated like she was declared victor now.
Eventually they both got their - right - trophee.
What followed were phenomenal points where Errani saved two matchpoints with dropshots, while Sharapova aced to another championship point.
And then the third matchpoint proved to be the right one: 6-2! Sharapova fell to her knees like she did in Wimbledon and started her victory celebrations.
She got her Career Grand Slam! You know, she's just the tenth women in history to accomplish that. And as any Grand Slam victor these days, she climbed (gracefully, it's Sharapova after all!) to her coach and box. (It's hilarious how that guy on the left above doesn't help at all!)
Meanwhile Errani was left with dealing with her loss.
Eventually they both got their - right - trophee.
Sharapova didn't even have to stop celebrating when getting back in the locker room.
And of course, the French just need their photo of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen with the Eiffel tower!
Can't wait for the grass season, stay posted!
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