Maria Sharapova won her second French
Open title on Saturday but it was Romanian Simona Halep who claimed the
hearts of the Roland Garros crowd after pushing the 27 year-old Russian
to the brink of defeat.
Sharapova had to use every grain of her experience and fighting capabilities – plus some highly dubious stalling tactics – to complete a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victory that stretched to just over three hours on a steaming afternoon.
While lacking much variety it was a fine contest of baseline slugging and retrieving, only marred by the weak officiating of French umpire Kader Nouni, who failed to crack down on the timewasting that continually forced the Romanian to adjust her pace of play.
Sharapova, who took an eight minute
break to change her dress after losing the second set tiebreak, went two
hours and 24 minutes before Nouni finally gave her a warning about
taking too much time between points.
Nonetheless you can only admire her remarkable fighting instinct which saw her win her fourth three set match in succession and none more gruelling than this.
The 27 year-old Russian returns to Wimbledon in a fortnight ten years after winning the title there. You could hardly have expected then that she would win two Roland Garros trophies without adding to hear haul at SW19.
'I wouldn’t have believed seven or eight years ago that I would win here more than at any other Slam, it was like a dream for me to win here at all,' said the champion.
Sharapova had to use every grain of her experience and fighting capabilities – plus some highly dubious stalling tactics – to complete a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victory that stretched to just over three hours on a steaming afternoon.
While lacking much variety it was a fine contest of baseline slugging and retrieving, only marred by the weak officiating of French umpire Kader Nouni, who failed to crack down on the timewasting that continually forced the Romanian to adjust her pace of play.
Aloft: Maria Sharapova holds her French Open trophy to show the crowd
Epic: Romanian Halep pushed her all the way in an epic match
Victor: Maria Sharapova wins her second French Open title after beating Romania's Simona Halep
Nonetheless you can only admire her remarkable fighting instinct which saw her win her fourth three set match in succession and none more gruelling than this.
The 27 year-old Russian returns to Wimbledon in a fortnight ten years after winning the title there. You could hardly have expected then that she would win two Roland Garros trophies without adding to hear haul at SW19.
'I wouldn’t have believed seven or eight years ago that I would win here more than at any other Slam, it was like a dream for me to win here at all,' said the champion.
Business time: Sharapova and Halep entering the arena ahead of their French Open final
Pre-game: Sharapova and Halep pose for pictures at the net ahead of their showdown
Doubling up: Sharapova was aiming for her second French Open title, after winning there in 2012
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