FRENCH OPEN: SHARAPOVA 6-3 6-2 ERRANI (BBC)

1.  

   GAME, SET AND MATCH - SHARAPOVA 6-3 6-2 ERRANI

   Errani rushes the net but she can't handle that from Sharapova, that backhand volley landing long. Maria cranking the volume up to 11 as she nears Nirvana, but that's cute from Errani, a drop-shot to make it 30-30. Errani thinks she might have that one won, Sharapova being pulled all over the baseline, but the Russian stretches and puts away a peerless forehand winner. Match point.

   Sharapova climbs into a potential match-winner but the ball lands inches long - how many bullets does she have left in the chamber? Wonderful stuff from the Italian, still trying to mix and match in a bid to dig herself out of the position she's in, and she nicks the advantage with another peach of a drop-shot.

   Sharapova saves courtesy of a sling-shot of a backhand winner before creating another match point with an ace out wide... that is about as ballsy as it gets - Errani standing up to some of Sharapova's biggest shots before landing with a sucker punch, a lollipop of a drop-shot. Sharapova rather cuts through the party atmosphere with an ace and after some more miraculous scrambling from Errani, Sharapova eventually hammers the Italian into the dirt.
2. 1536: 

   Jack Blackburn on Twitter: "Maria Sharapova is serving for the French Open title and a career grand slam. About to become one of the all time greats."
3.  

   *Sharapova 6-3 5-2 Errani

   Errani falls into a 0-30 deficit and Sharapova has three break-points as Errani puts a pick-up off her toes long. Sharapova flays a forehand return miles wide but secures the next point - a virtual match point - with a precision backhand down the line.
4.  

   Sharapova 6-3 4-2 Errani*

   Sharapova not missing with much at the moment and she makes it 15-0 with a thunderous forehand down the line. The Russian can smell the silver now although Errani hasn't given up all hope, steering a backhand down the line to make it 30-15. A double from Sharapova, her fifth of the match, before Errani fairly launches into that return to make it 30-40... without meaning to patronise the Italian, well-played Errani, staying in the match courtesy of another well-directed backhand down the line.
5.  

   *Sharapova 6-3 4-1 Errani

   Sharapova crisp and dry with her groundstrokes and she races into a 0-30 lead behind her 29th winner. There's Errani's eighth, a well-aimed forehand cross court, before Sharapova goes long with a rather tired-looking backhand. What a backhand return that is from Sharapova to make it deuce, Errani's kinsfolk in Italy felt that one, and the Russian makes it deuce again with a ferocious forehand down the line.

   Just too much heat from the Russian, another whipped forehand winner to nick the advantage, but the number two seed flicks a backhand wide. Sharapova slaps a forehand return long but makes it deuce again with another winner on the forehand flank.

   Yet another forehand winner from Sharapova, but she blows another break-point with a forehand that lands a couple of inches long. Another advantage for Sharapova as Errani buckles under an avalanche of groundstrokes and this time she snaps Errani's arm off, hitting the advancing Italian at the net.
6.  

   Sharapova 6-3 3-1 Errani*

   Sharapova stomps all over that rather meek return from Errani, steering a backhand winner down the line, before sending down a booming ace for 30-15. Errani guides a forehand return into the tramlines but takes the game to deuce as Sharapova yanks a forehand into the net. Errani advantage, Sharapova off the boil momentarily, but the Russian pours it on to save. Sharapova into the net like a gazelle, puts away a forehand winner, before Errani bunts into the net. The Italian getting closer, but close don't win you no silver bowl.
7.  

   *Sharapova 6-3 2-1 Errani

   Sterling defence by Errani, holding up to a couple of would-be winners by Sharapova before putting away a solid overhead. Sharapova opens up that wingspan and pummels a forehand winner before Errani sends down a double, her first of the match. Errani finds the net with a backhand as Sharapova claws her way back to deuce but the Italian rallies.
8.  

   Sharapova 6-3 2-0 Errani*

   Sharapova's pulled up the shutters, everything coming back at Errani at the moment, Errani eventually clawing a forehand into the net. Nice backhand volley from Errani but it's 30-15 as the Italian plonks a backhand into the net.

   That's a peach of a point by Errani, going toe-to-toe again but this time stepping in again and dinking over a forehand stop-volley. Sharapova into the net after another lengthy exchange and we're at deuce. The Russian composes herself before sending down an ace out wide and finishing things off with a backhand winner. A ripple of applause, screamingly obvious who this crowd wants to win it.
9. 1453: 

   Times tennis correspondent Neil Harman on 5 live: "There was a sense of inevitability after the first four games went very quickly. But after that Errani showed she is definitely back in this match. The second set should be a mighty tight contest."
10.  

    *Sharapova 6-3 1-0 Errani

    That was comfortable enough for Sharapova but there were signs towards the end of that set that Errani could yet make this interesting. That said, you get the impression if Sharapova keeps up her standard, there's not a great deal Errani can do. Errani into the net to make it 0-15 before Sharapova ding-dongs a backhand return to double her lead.

    Fine rally to follow but the winner's the same, the willowy Russian finishing things off with a burly backhand down the line. Break to love, rumours of Errani's recovery may well have been exaggerated...
11.  

    GAME AND FIRST SET - Sharapova 6-3 Errani*

    Errani pulling out all the stops from behind the baseline before Sharapova makes it 15-0 with a drive-volley. Double-fault before Errani flays a forehand return miles wide to make it 30-15. Awesome from Errani, dragging her rival out of the court before steering a backhand winner down the line. But Sharapova drills a forehand winner to create set-point number three and this time she grabs it, thrashing a backhand down the line.
12.  

    *Sharapova 5-3 Errani

    Errani attempting to stand toe-to-toe with Sharapova from the back of the court but she's got to be more sneaky, there's only one winner in a straight-up punch-up... two set-points, Sharapova, eyes like saucers, blows the first into the net...

    ... tremendous finish by Errani, opening up and thrashing a forehand winner down the line before Sharapova goes wide with a wild and windy backhand... well-played Errani, keeping the ball in play and Sharapova eventually tugging a backhand wide.
13.  

    Sharapova 5-2 Errani*

    Sharapova creams a backhand right into the corner to leave Errani rooted in the clay before skimming the baseline with a forehand winner. This time it's a flat backhand winner down the line and that was very much normal service resumed.
14.  

    *Sharapova 4-2 Errani

    That's fine play by Errani, sticking up a moon ball before scuttling into the net and dispatching the knifed backhand volley. Better by Errani, moving Sharapova around the back of the court and winning the point with a fizzed top-spin forehand. Great scrambling by Errani but Sharapova ends the conversation with a screaming forehand winner. Misjudged drop-shot by Errani makes it 40-30 before Sharapova shows her impetuous side, yanking a forehand miles wide. Not such a foregone conclusion...
15.  

    Sharapova 4-1 Errani*

    Errani showing some spunk, stepping in and thrashing a forehand winner. Double-fault by Sharapova makes it 0-40 before Errani just misses with a hooked forehand. But the Italian has joined the party at last, even if it was gift-wrapped by her opponent.
16. 1427: 

    David on Twitter: "Hope Sharapova does win in Paris and achieve career Grand Slam; written off as glamourpuss but fine player."
17.  

    *Sharapova 4-0 Errani

    Errani with a good reaction to that point, a little yelp as Sharapova puts a forehand long. But Sharapova's got her forehand grooved and she's back in the game courtesy of a searing pass. Backhand winner from Sharapova, down the line, for two more break-points... blows one long... the second into the net, good, deep hitting from Errani.

    But what a forehand return that is, Sharapova climbing into a second serve that sits up and begs to be slapped, and the Russian breaks again courtesy of a forehand winner right into the corner. Apparently Errani calls this new racquet of hers 'Excalibur'. Unfortunately for her, Sharapova's using a light sabre.
18.  

    Sharapova 3-0 Errani*

    Sharapova hosing Errani off the court at the moment, the Russian flinging a forehand down the line to make it 15-0 before whipping a cross-court winner to double her lead. Ace down the middle to hold, Sharapova imperious in her eight minutes on court.
19.  

    *Sharapova 2-0 Errani

    Errani wins her first service point before some heavy hitting from Sharapova leads to the Italian shovelling a backhand long. Errani slices a forehand wide before Sharapova creates two break-points with a backhand down that shaves the line. Errani saves one... but not the second, the Italian muscling a backhand long, to near silence from the Roland Garros faithful.
20.  

    Sharapova 1-0 Errani*

    Sharapova with first dibs on serve and we have an early clench-fist as she wins the first point. The first double-fault of the match makes it 30-15 before the Russian steps in and thumps a forehand down the line and wraps up a routine service game with an ace. They were all saying it: if Sharapova's serve is well-buttered, Errani's toast...