Maria Sharapova won her second French Open and fifth career major on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 win over Romania's Simona Halep in the tournament's second longest final.
At 3hr 02min, it was just two minutes shy of the 1996 final between Steffi Graf and Aranxta Sanchez.
Sharapova, the seventh seed, won her first Roland Garros title in 2012 and was runner-up last year to Serena Williams.
Halep, the fourth seed, was playing in her maiden final at a Grand Slam and was hoping to become the first Romanian champion since Virginia Ruzici, now her manager, in 1978.
In a final that saw a combined 16 breaks of serve from both and 12 double faults from Sharapova, it was the Russian who survived the gruelling affair and walked off the battlefield victorious.
“This is the toughest grand slam final I’ve ever played. All respect to Simona, I thought she played an unbelievable match today,” said an emotional Sharapova, before receiving the trophy from seven-time champion Chris Evert.
“I can’t believe it. I never thought seven, eight years ago that I would win more Roland Garros titles at 27 years old than any other major. I’m so emotional right now, I can’t even talk.”
Halep got a look at a break point from the very first game when Sharapova sent a backhand long and the Romanian got the break when Sharapova sent another drive backhand long.
Halep consolidated for a 2-0 lead and saved a break point in game four with a drive forehand volley.
A resiliant comeback from Sharapova, however, saw her serving for the set at 5-3 but Halep wouldn’t let her opponent go ahead without a fight, breaking the former champion to keep her chances alive in the opening set.
A wide forehand from Halep the next game though handed Sharapova the break back and the set.
Halep fought back admirably in the second but failed to make the most of several opportunities to see out the set with her serve failing her when she needed it the most.
Leading to a tie-break, Halep finally clinched a 72-minute second set to force a decider.
After a lengthy toilet break, Sharapova returned to the court and broke in the opening game of the third set but Halep broke right back moments after the Russian had received a time violation warning.
Sharapova hustled again though and consolidated to lead 4-2 only to hit a 12th double fault and get broken two games later.
But Halep continued to struggle on her own serve, falling behind 0-40 and Sharapova broke for 5-4 to serve for the match.
Sharapova finally got her first of three match points with a service winner and she took it on her first opportunity, falling down to her knees as Halep’s ball sailed wide.
Saturday's win took Sharapova, 27, level with Martina Hingis as a five-time Grand Slam title champion.
