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Serena Williams wins the 2013 French Open
A victorious Serena Williams hold aloft the trophy, after winning the 2013 French Open, Saturday June 8, 2013. PHOTO/Michel Spingler/AP
Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 in a high-quality final to seal her second French Open title, 11 years after her first triumph at Roland Garros.
It was the 31-year-old American’s 16th Grand Slam title victory, taking her to within two of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova who are tied for fourth on the all-time list.
And it underscored her near total domination of the women’s game, having won three of the last four Grand Slam titles — at Wimbledon, the US and French Opens — and reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.
For Sharapova it was a 10th straight loss to her American nemesis dating back to 2004 when she defeated her in the Wimbledon final and the WTA Championships when she was just 17-years-old.
“It was very difficult today. After 11 years (since last win) and now I have 16 (Grand Slam titles),” said Williams, addressing the crowd in French.
“But I want to come back next year because I adore Paris and I adore the public here. I want to win here again.
“I spend a lot of time here (in Paris) … and I think I am becoming a Parisienne.”
Sharapova said: “I played a great tournament, but ran into a really tough opponent today. She has been playing so well this year and the whole of last year as well.
