Maria Sharapova wins French Open after three-set Simona Halep battle • French Open glory for Russian after 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 triumph • Second Roland Garros title gives Sharapova five grand slams Few do it so efficiently. French Open 2014: Intense Sharapova survives Halep for 5th Grand Slam French Open 2014: Maria Sharapova battles past Simona Halepto win her second title in Paris and fifth Grand Slam With Halep hitting cross-court and Sharpova returning down the line, the Russian opens up the court to give herself break point. The 2014 female French Open finalists Sharapova and Simona Halep (right) line up for what will be a thrilling Roland Garros showdown. Just 12 months ago, she was ranked No57 in the world and was defeated in the first round at Roland Garros. Shots that would be winners against most opponents were retrieved by Sharapova was up to the task. Hope she wins. Win or lose today, she will ascend to World No3 when the latest WTA rankings are announced on Monday. Then Halep, seemingly spent, dug deep to break back for 4-4, aided by another two double faults.But Sharapova countered in a twinkling, breaking to love, then closed it out without mercy. But not on her serve. "Sharapova broke into a huge smile while hoisting the trophy overhead, then shaking it with both hands and scanning a stadium that, improbably, has become hers. After mis-hitting an early forehand, she nonchalantly twirled her racket, one-handed, like a gunslinger reholstering a smoking six gun. They come to see a woman who is undeniably beautiful suffer for her art. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. I stayed relaxed with my team. It seems that umpire Nouni did indeed have a word with the Russian about the length of time she was taking between her second serves during the changeover. Maria Sharapova v Simona Halep: French Open 2014 final – as it happened Maria Sharapova won her fifth grand slam, but was taken to the very … In the absence of Williams, whom she simply cannot beat, she knew she probably would not have a better chance to succeed her as French champion.Since she beat Sara Errani here in 2012, Sharapova has had a golden run, losing only to Williams and Ana Ivanovic on clay.As they went deeper into the contest, however, the feeling grew that, if Halep could force a third set, she might have the besting of Sharapova – and the fierceness in her shots suggested Sharapova thought so too. It was a great final – and it won’t be Halep’s last. And, sure enough, in the very first game the Russian slammed down her 32nd double fault of the tournament to go four clear of the field before adding 11 more over the next three hours.Yet she prevailed, winning the last eight points of the match after flirting with disaster because of her unreliable serve. In the absence of Williams, whom she simply cannot beat, she knew she probably would not have a better chance to succeed her as French champion.Since she beat Sara Errani here in 2012, Sharapova has had a golden run, losing only to Williams and Ana Ivanovic on clay.As they went deeper into the contest, however, the feeling grew that, if Halep could force a third set, she might have the besting of Sharapova – and the fierceness in her shots suggested Sharapova thought so too. The prospect of victory added zest to her every move and stroke. This was her third final in a row in Paris: She won the 2012 title to complete a career Grand Slam, then lost last year to Sharapova is 20-1 the last three years at Roland Garros -- which is nothing compared to "You're not just born being a natural clay-court player. While her opponent is breaking new ground this afternoon, Sharapova has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt. Although she had won three three-setters in a row to get here, she wanted to get this kid out of here.They got to a tiebreak, where Halep held her nerve in the shootout and the stadium roared for the extra entertainment.There was nothing much in it until the 35th minute of the final set, when Sharapova, defending frantically, broke for 3-2. Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. It screamed composure, which sometimes had been missing from her game earlier in the tournament.Sharapova’s had been a more arduous path to the final, her six wins taking 10 hours, three-and-a-half hours longer than Halep needed, but the Russian was energised by the glint of sunlight on the trophy. All rights reserved. We're seeing some splendid, attritional tennis here ... and hearing some splendid, attritional shrieking. In an entertaining and undulating championship match -- the first women's final at Roland Garros in 13 years to go three sets -- Sharapova showed that she's as tough as they come, particularly on the red clay that used to flummox her.