Sharapova Beats Halep to Clinch Her Second French Open Title

Posted by: Omaku Cephas on June 7, 2014

Maria Sharapova survived another three-set match to clinch her fifth Grand Slam title in the French Open final on Saturday.

The Russian held her nerves in the deciding set of a dicey final against fourth seed Simona Halep to a 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 win, claiming her second Roland Garros title at the Philippe Chatrier in 3 hours 2 minutes, two years after winning her first.

Halep, playing in her first Majors final, enjoyed her fair share of momentum in a ding-dong contest best remembered for some shaky service, going on to inspire the first three-set final since Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijster back in 2001.

Maria Sharapova Wins Her Second French Open Title Against Simona Halep.

Sharapovas iron will conquered all- including Sam Stossur, Garbine Muguruza and Eugenie Bouchard- in the end, extending her record in deciding sets on clay to 20-0.

At 4-3 in the second set the 27-year-old seventh seed held two break points, but her Romanian opponent saved both. In the tie-breaker, Sharapova got within two points of victory at 5-3, but Halep took the next four to claim the set and force the game into a decider.

This is the toughest Grand Slam final Ive ever played, Sharapova, who has won the Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006), and the Australian Open (2008) one each, said.

I never thought seven, eight years ago, that I would win more Roland Garroses when I was 27 years old than any other Grand Slam.

Its a tournament, when I was young and growing up, I wanted to win.

To think that Ive won it two times is, I dont know-so emotional right now, I cant even talk.

Sharapova took an eight-minute toilet break after losing the second set tie-break. She went ahead 4-2 on return but her 22-year-old opponent broke back to 4-all.

It turned out that was Haleps last shot at a first Grand Slam title as Sharapova upped the ante and wouldnt lose another point. She broke to love for 5-4 with a backhand winner, then holding at love by forcing a backhand error from Halep on match point.