Sharapova overpowers Errani to win French Open

(CNN) -- Maria Sharapova overpowered Sara Errani to win the French Open final at Roland Garros for the first time and complete a career grand slam.

The 2012 tournament's surprise package, Italian Errani never came up with an answer to Sharapova's strategy of power and unerring ball placement as the Russian produced 37 winner to secure a 6-3 6-3 victory.

As Sharapova motored into a 4-0 lead in the opening set the final looked as it might be over in the blink of an eye, but Errani got her toe in the match by breaking Sharapova's serve to win the fifth game.

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Li Na was disappointed after suffering a surprise defeat in the fourth round of the French Open against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan.

World No. 142 Shvedova will next face either Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova or Uzbekistan-born American Varvara Lepchenko after ending Li's title defense.

Maria Sharapova struggled with her serve against Klara Zakopalova, but reached the quarterfinals and can become the new world No. 1 by making it to the title match.

Zakopalova won their first encounter in 2003 when Sharapova was 15, but the Czech was unable to capitalize on the Russian's error-strewn performance in cold, windy conditions at Roland Garros.

Sharapova will next play Estonia's Kaia Kanepi (left) -- who followed up her win over former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki by beating unseeded Dutch player Arantxa Rus.

Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova reached the Paris quarterfinals for the first time, and the 2011 Wimbledon champion will next play Shvedova.

Defending champion departs

Shevdova celebrates

Sharapova's serve

Czech canceled

Kanepi keeps winning

Kvitova on course

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Li Na exits French Open

Maria Sharapova has come a long way since turning professional on her 14th birthday in April 2001, having played the game since she was four years old.

Sharapova's fame has brought endrosements that saw Forbes magazine rate her as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, with annual earnings of over $18 million. She has her own clothing line and is also working on a candy line called Sugarpova.

The one thing separating Sharapova from a career grand slam is the French Open title. She has twice made the semifinals, most recently in 2011, when she was beaten by eventual winner Li Na of China.

Despite never having won at Roland Garros, Sharapova is in good form in 2012, losing just once on clay this season. Most recently, she successfully defended her Italian Open title to offer hope she can finally win the French Open and complete a career slam.

Sharapova was spotted at an early age by former great Martina Navratilova and after moving to the United States she was enrolled into the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida at the age of nine.

The Russian became the third youngest female to win Wimbledon in 2004 aged just 17. She beat Serena Williams in the final to spark huge interest the papers labelled "Maria Mania."

Sharapova's second major success came at the U.S. Open in 2006 when she beat Justine Henin at Flushing Meadows. By this stage she had already become the first Russian woman ever to hold the world No. 1 ranking.

The 25-year-old made it a hat-trick of grand slam victories at the 2008 Australian Open and in some style. She didn't drop a set in the entire tournament on her way to defeating Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in the final.

The Sharapova story

Sharapova style

Paris pain

At home in Rome

Early years

Wimbledon breakthrough

Flushed with success

A major hat-trick

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Maria Sharapova's French Open dream

Errani, who is ranked 23rd in the world, showed plenty of grit to save two set points in the eighth game, but when a third set point came up in the following game Sharapova ruthlessly converted.

Italy's Errani refused to capitulate in the second set, but was never able to threaten the Russian's dominance.

As well as strength, Sharapova's quickness of feet was a feature of an impressive performance, notably when she sprinted to reach an Errani drop shot, winning the point to take a 4-1 lead.

Errani saved two match points in a game that the Italian produced a couple of the deftest drop shots you could wish for, but the Italian's resistance was finally ended when the Russian converted her third championship point.

It was the 25-year-old Russian's first grand slam title since she won the Australian Open in 2008.

Since then Sharapova's career has been hampered by serious shoulder injuries that forced her into a long rehab, but her winning form at Roland Garros will also see the Russian move above Belorussian Victoria Azarenka to take the No. 1 ranking slot on Monday.

Saturday's victory ensured Sharapova became just the 10th female player to complete a career grand slam to emulate the the likes of greats such as Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert and Serena Williams.

The Russian won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon eight years ago, before going on to win the US Open in 2006 and then then Australian Open four years ago.

"It's the most incredible feeling," said Sharapova after her win in Paris. "I'm so happy. I've worked so hard for this -- it took a lot to get to this stage and even more to win it. There are so many tough days where you feel like giving up, but you don't. It's been such a journey to get to this stage again."

If Errani's impressive performances at Roland Garros -- featuring wins over two former champions and two members of the top 10 -- might not have had a fairytale ending, those rankings will provide some consolation for the Italian as she enters the top 10 for the first time.

"I don't feel like top 10, but I will be top 10, and it's incredible for me," said Errani, who made only only hit 11 unforced errors during the final. "I really can't believe it. I'm so happy for everything right now."

Victor Sharapova made a point of praising Errani's achievement in reaching the final.

"What an amazing tournament," said the Russian. "I've watched you play the last two weeks and the way you've performed. And the way you played today was extremely difficult for me. I know it was our first meeting, and I hope we play many more times."