Sharapova confirms grand slam credentials

Maria Sharapova may have dropped the top off her trophy but she hardly dropped her serve in claiming her first US Open title in her debut appearance in the final at Flushing Meadows. The 19-year-old Russian stuck to her game plan, powering past Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 to claim her second career grand slam win. Sharapova now has a US Open to go with her 2004 Wimbledon crown and she was so excited that when she went to lift the trophy during the post-match presentation she threw it in the air

and the top flew off.

"I thought to myself the second that happened, 'That's typical Maria. Typical.' I just knew there is always something that's going to happen," she said.

Sharapova, who had lost four straight to Henin-Hardenne leading into the final, used her stinging serve to overpower the Belgian second seed in the fourth consecutive non-American US Open decider.

Born in Russia but now a full-time resident of the United States, Sharapova collapsed in joy on the baseline as soon as the final ball was struck giving her a 13th career WTA Tour win.

"I am still pretty shocked. You just think of everything you put into this moment. I experienced it two years ago and I knew I wasn't done," she said. Sharapova then climbed into the stands to embrace and thank her coach and father Yuri. When she returned to the court for the trophy presentation, she reached for her mobile phone. "The first person I called was my mom and then my best friend," Sharapova said.

Nothing to prove

Asked if this was a validation of her grand slam credentials, Sharapova said she does not go into the match thinking she had anything to prove.

"I am not here to compliment myself," she said. "I am thrilled to have won second major but I still have years to go in my career.

"Is it a confirmation? No, I don't feel like I need to confirm anything."

Sharapova bristled at questions about her personal life and reports describing her father holding up a banana during her quarter-final match to remind her to eat during the break in order to keep her strength up.

"Honestly I believe at end of the day my life is not about a banana or what I wear, or what friends I have," Sharapova said.

"My career right now is about winning a tennis match. Right now I'm sitting here as a US Open champion and the last thing I need is people to worry about is a banana. If someone tells me to eat a banana is that the reason why I won a match?

"We should tell all the players to have a banana and they are going to win.

Sharapova had her serve working superbly against the 2003 US Open champion Henin-Hardenne getting two breaks in the first set after dropping her first service game.

She needed just one break in the second set to win in one hour and 30 minutes in front of 23,000 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"Even though I got broken in first set I didn't worry about it," she said. "I just kept telling myself to enjoy the moment and keep fighting to the end.

"I don't give up I don't like to lose. I am strong mentally."

--AFP