Sharapova wins French Open, completes career Grand Slam

Paris, June 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian World No.1 Maria Sharapova became only the 10th female tennis player to complete a career Grand Slam as she swept aside Italy's Sara Errani in straight sets in the French Open final Saturday.

Sharapova dominated Errani 6-3, 6-2 in their first ever match, denying the Italian 21st seed the chance to add to the women's doubles title she won Saturday.

Sharapova has now won each of the Grand Slam quartet of the Australian Open, French Open, US Open and the Wimbledon.

"It took me many years to get to this stage, eight years ago was my breakthrough," Sharapova said in televised comments, referring to her 2004 Wimbledon title.

Errani's charge to the final elevates her to the world's elite from her current ranking of No. 24.

"I will be top 10. I can't believe it and so I'm so happy for that," she said.

Errani and Roberta Vinci beat the Russian pair of Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to lift the women's doubles trophy Friday.

The match lasted over two hours but Errani denied Friday it had left her drained before the final.

By reaching the final, Sharapova regained the World No.1 spot from Victoria Azarenka for the first time since a long injury layoff in 2008 and 2009 saw her drop out of the top 100.

The Russian will take home $1.25 million for her win, while Errani earned half as runner-up.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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