Maria Sharapova is no longer a 'one Slam wonder' after winning the million dollar title at Flushing Meadows yeasterday. The 19-year-old Russian showed determination and grit to overcome the shots of world number two Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of a crowd of 24,000 spectators.The title marked the second grand slam of Sharapova's career, following her remarkable Wimbledon run in 2004.
"I experienced it two years ago, and I knew that I wasn't done, I had a lot more in me," she said. "That was just the beginning. This is not just preparation that happened a couple weeks before the tournament; this is preparation that I've done ever since I was a little girl."
Maria Sharapova - US Open Women's Champion
Roger Federer claimed his third U.S. Open title in a row with a flourish on Sunday, beating Andy Roddick 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 to capture his ninth grand slam singles crown.
The 25-year-old Swiss maestro captured the only service break of a tightly contested third set by breaking the ninth-seeded American in the last game and then charged to victory allowing Roddick just 13 points in the final set. Federer walked away with a winners cheque for $1.5 million dollars, a new Lexus car and a new record for being the only player to hold three consecutive Wimbledon titles and three consecutive US Open titles.
Roger Federer - US Open Men's Champion
In the women's doubles final, Nathalie Dechy of France and Russian Vera Zvonareva beat eighth seeds Dinara Safina and Katarina Srebotnik 7-6 7-5 to take the title.
The unseeded pair came through in just under two hours to give Zvonareva her third grand slam title and Dechy her first.
"That's what we work for, 20 years, to play in front of the crowd, in the center court of the grand slam in the finals," Zvonareva said.
"It's a great opportunity. You just got to enjoy. No matter how you play, try to do it."
The men's doubles title was won by the partnership of Leander Paes and Martin Damm, crowned with their first year as a team, after beating Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi 6-7 6-4 6-3 to win the men's doubles title at the U.S. Open.
"I don't think there are enough words to express how much fun and how much learning I've actually had playing with Martin, because we're actually opposites on the court," Paes said.
"It's been a fantastic year playing with him. I've really enjoyed it. I'd like to thank him for a wonderful year."
The victory gave Damm his first grand slam title, while for Paes it was his fourth men's doubles crown and seventh in all.US Open mixed doubles title was won by the legend Martina Navratilova and her partner Bob Bryan. A month before her 50th birthday, navaratilova extended her already fantastic record to 59 Grand Slam titles with this win, but insisted this will be her last match as a pro player on the tour. She had originally retired in 1994, then returned to the tour in 2000 to play doubles and the occational singles match.
