Russian Maria Sharapova Wins Wimbledon Title

Completing an improbable journey from the far reaches of Siberia to the pinnacle of the sport, Maria Sharapova beat two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 Saturday to win Wimbledon for her first Grand Slam title. She's the first Russian to win a Wimbledon singles title, the third-youngest women's champion in history and, at No. 13, the lowest seeded women's winner since Wimbledon began seeding players in 1927.

"I never, never in my life expected this to happen so fast," Sharapova said. "It's always been my dream to come here and to win. It was never in my mind I would do it this year."

Sharapova pumped her fists, whacked a ball into the stands and climbed into the guest box to hug her father, Yuri. She pulled out a cellphone and tried to call her mother but couldn't get through immediately.

"I turned it on and it keeps turning off - come on, technology," she said with a giggle. Sharapova accepted the winner's trophy - the Venus Rosewater dish - from the Duke of Kent. "I want to cut up this trophy and give it to everybody, this whole crowd," she said.

Sharapova, playing in her first Grand Slam final, put on a virtuoso performance against the six-time Grand Slam winner. She showed no signs of nerves and kept Williams on the defensive, hitting 17 winners and only 11 errors.

Sharapova has a modelling contract, drawing comparisons to Anna Kournikova. But, unlike Kournikova, she can win tournaments. Sharapova had three tour titles coming into Wimbledon.

Click here to see some hot photos of Sharapova.

Related: More Maria Sharapova

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