Sharapova faces Errani in today’s women’s singles final

Associated Press

PARIS

When Maria Sharapova’s opponent in the French Open final, Sara Errani, was 12, she struck out on her own, leaving behind her family in Italy and heading off to Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy in Florida.

Far from her parents, and not yet able to speak English well, Errani stuck it out for about 10 months, crying nearly every day. She called home a lot.

“I knew she was determined and focused,” her mother, Fulvia, said after watching Errani win her first Grand Slam semifinal, “so I knew she would figure things out.”

Now 25, Errani most certainly has. She figured out she needed to go back to Europe, eventually finding a new coach and a place to train in Spain. She figured out how to overcome the limitations of a 5-foot-41/2 frame in a sport filled with taller, harder hitters — such as the 6-2 Sharapova, a three-time major champion who will be standing across the net today at Roland Garros.

“It’s not a question of believing or not believing. I don’t think about that. I just think about playing. I just think about going on court and giving my all,” Errani said.

Until a quarterfinal run at this year’s Australian Open, Errani never had been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament. Until this week, she was 0-28 against players ranked in the top 10.