• French Open, Day 12

Emotional return to No. 1 for Sharapova

Maria Sharapova advanced to the final after beating Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-3 © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Errani stuns Stosur to reach French Open final
  
• News: Sharapova sees off Kvitova to seal return to No. 1
  
• Features: Sharapova shines on ladies' day
  
• Profile: Sara Errani | Petra Kvitova | Maria Sharapova | Sam Stosur
• Gallery: French Open, Day 12

ESPN will be providing extensive coverage of the French Open, with live scores, commentary and analysis and you can follow it all with our live scorecentre

Maria Sharapova was relieved and delighted in equal measure to have conquered Petra Kvitova and returned to the world No. 1 spot.

"It was tough to play a great match because of the wind. It was about playing a solid match," Sharapova said. "Patience was very important today, because no matter how well you're playing, so many things equal out. If you're frustrated by a few mistakes, it can get you down. And I was facing a tough opponent who has given me a lot of trouble. So I was really happy I won in two sets today.

"It's just amazing to be back in this position of being World No.1 again. Well, not yet - on Monday. But it's nice to know it happened again for me. I was in a position a few years ago where I didn't quite know if I would ever be here again on this stage, playing professionally, and not just that, but at a level to get to No.1 in the world and a first Roland Garros final for me."

Kvitova, who had never been past the fourth round at Roland Garros before this year's run, admitted her opponent was too good on the day.

"Maria played very well today. She has improved a lot, not just on clay," Kvitova said. "It was a different match today compared to my matches before. But I don't think I played badly - she plays very fast, and it's tough to return against her, so she really deserved to win, and she's No.1 in the world now.

"Next time I have to be in a different half than Maria."

Sara Errani said she was surprised to have reached the final after beating Sam Stosur, but says she is "not finished".

"I didn't think I could do this coming into the tournament. Never. This is just incredible for me," Errani said. "The first round here was difficult, this match was difficult, all the matches have been difficult, and I'm very happy how I've played. The most important thing for me is I'm just thinking about playing - I'm just playing my game without thinking of what I'm doing. But I'm not finished."

Stosur was understandably deflated after her loss. "It was too up and down. I didn't do it at the times when it obviously mattered. I got a little bit on the back foot, which kind of got me in that 3-0 hole in the third set, and I couldn't afford to do that. I paid the ultimate price. I'm capable of doing more, and I didn't for whatever reason.

"I'll probably take a couple of days off. You've got to go through whatever emotions and let it all sink in. If I wake up tomorrow and feel like going for a hit I'll go for a hit, but chances are I won't.

"I hope I can look forward to Wimbledon. That's always been a very tough tournament for me, but I guess in some ways that's the beauty of tennis, that you can have a really crap day and then there's another tournament the next week and you have a chance to really redeem yourself very quickly."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.