Russian teenager Maria Sharapova, 17, triumphs after defeating Serena Williams and sweeping the Wimbledon title. Photo by WN
Russian teenager Maria Sharapova stunned defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final to become the first Russian to win a singles title at the championships.
The 17-year-old also became only the second Russian woman to win a grand slam title, less than a month after Anastasia Myskina became the first at Roland Garros.
Playing in her first grand slam final, Sharapova showed no early nerves and drew first blood by breaking the defending champion's serve to lead 3-1 after Serena ballooned a backhand long.
If Williams had come back and won, it would have given her a hat trick of Wimbledon titles - one more than her sister Venus.