Sharapova wins French Open

New world number one Maria Sharapova beat Italy's Sara Errani 6-3 6-3 to win her first ever French Open title. The win means Sharapova has completed a career Grand Slam after seeing off the challenge of Errani.

She become only the 10th woman to complete a career Grand Slam.

Sharapova, 25, claimed a one-sided  win to add to her Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles from earlier in her career.

The Russian overwhelmed her Italian opponent, who was playing in her first Grand Slam singles final.

Sharapova swept Errani aside to win 6-3, 6-2 and claim her first Major since the 2008 Australian Open.

At a time when many feel the women's game is lacking a dominant figure, Sharapova provided more evidence that she is capable of filling that vacuum.

Since she was last world number one in June 2008, the top ranking has been held by eight different players and exchanged hands on 15 occasions.

Sharapova produced a display of power and precision which will now see her head into Wimbledon as a strong favourite.

She and Errani had never met before and, while the Russian was the clear favourite, her opponent posed a threat having won three clay court tournaments coming into the French Open.

Maureen Connolly Brinker, Doris Hart, Shirley Fry Irvin, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams are the other holders of the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open during their respective careers.

Sharapova’s completion of the career grand slam comes almost ten years after she started out on the path - she won Wimbledon in 2004 as a 17-year-old, before adding the US Open two years later.