Russian Maria Sharapova came of age at the U.S. Open as she produced a stunning performance to outgun Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-4 to win her second grand slam title amid allegations of court-side coaching.
The 19-year-old battered the Belgian into submission from the baseline, hammering 20 winners to clinch victory, falling to her knees and putting her head in her hands in disbelief after Henin-Hardenne dumped a forehand into the net.
After taking the congratulations of the Belgian, the Russian roared in delight before running into the crowd to embrace her father Yuri.
‘This is an amazing honour,’ Sharapova said. ‘I figured that I lost the last four times I played Justine so everything I did in those four matches I had to flip 360 and do totally differently. That is what I did today.’
Since winning Wimbledon in 2004 as a 17-year-old, Sharapova has been criticised for her lack of progress.
Her model physique and off-court commitments have captured as much attention as her exploits on the tennis court and many have questioned her dedication to the game.
But against Henin-Hardenne, the 2003 champion, she played near flawless tennis to take the title, serving out the match seemingly without nerves.
As a disappointed Henin-Hardenne looked on, a jubilant Sharapova even dropped the lid of the champion's trophy in her rush to hold it over her head in celebration.
In front of a packed Arthur Ashe Court, Sharapova began nervously as Henin-Hardenne broke in the second game for a 2-0 lead.
Henin-Hardenne was appearing in her fourth grand-slam final of the year - the first woman to do so since Martina Hingis in 1997 - and would have regained the world number one ranking had she won the tournament for a second time.
But from the moment Sharapova broke back in the next game with the help of a deft half-volley, the Russian always had the upper hand. Her groundstrokes were heavier, her serve more piercing and her movement more assured.
After the early trading of breaks, the Russian grabbed the vital break in the ninth game before serving out for the first set.
As the winner of five grand slam titles, including this year's French Open, Henin-Hardenne was not about to go away but the quality of Sharapova's serving kept her continually on the defensive.
Whatever Henin-Hardenne tried to throw at her, the Russian had an answer for.
In the end the pressure had to tell on the Belgian as a missed forehand handed Sharapova the break in the seventh game of the second set.
The Belgian hung in on her own serve but Sharapova held her nerve under pressure to serve out to 15, wrapping up victory thanks to a forehand error from Henin-Hardenne.
Afterwards Sharapova got more than a little testy with reporters when questioned about an apparent illegal signal she received during the victory.
Television cameras showed Sharapova's hitting partner Michael Joyce holding up four fingers during the Russian teenager's 6-4 6-4 victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne.
In response, Sharapova returned what appeared to be a similar four-finger signal.
Sharapova, 19, said after the match that she wanted to have a ‘positive interview’ with reporters and refused to answer what the signal meant.
The Russian had also been questioned over the past few days about receiving courtside advice from her father Yuri.
Between games, when he drank water, Sharapova drank water, and when he ate a banana, she ate a banana.
‘Honestly, I believe at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana; it's not about what I wear; it's not about the friends that I have,’ she said.
‘My career right now is about winning a tennis match. And right now I'm sitting here as a U.S. Open champion, and the last thing I think people need to worry about is a banana.’
Courtside coaching in any form is illegal in professional tennis. While the Women's Tennis Association is experimenting with courtside coaching, it was not allowed at the Open.
Sharapova did not discuss the hand signals, preferring to talk about the allegations involving her father.
‘Can you tell me, if someone tells me to eat a banana, do you think that's the reason why I'm going to win a match?’ she said.
