PARIS — Serena Williams proved an irresistible force once more as she powered past Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 to win the French Open for the second time Saturday — 11 years after her first triumph. Defending champion Sharapova threw everything she had at the 31-year-old Serena but came up short as the American became the oldest woman to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since tennis turned professional in 1968. Serena, who extended her current winning streak to 31 matches, took her haul of Grand Slam singles titles to 16 from the 20 finals she has contested. “It was very difficult,” Serena said. “After 11 years it's incredible. Thank you to the crowd. I want to come back here and win again. I think I'm Parisienne.” Sharapova said: “She's been playing so well throughout the year and throughout the tournament. Congratulations to her. This court has brought me so many nice memories — last year was so special. I'll be back next year to try to win again.” The Russian walked on to a muggy Chatrier Court trying to overturn a 12-match losing run against Serena, and things started promisingly as she recovered from 0-40 down in her opening service game and then broke for a 2-0 lead. Sharapova took heart from some early Serena errors, and a second-serve ace helped her to 40-15 and within a point of a 3-0 lead. World No. 1 Serena hit back, though, with some thumping drives and broke serve with a solid overhead. After holding for 2-2, Serena engineered more break points as Sharapova again went 0-40 down, and this time Serena did not let the Russian off the hook, nailing an unreturnable forehand winner that left Sharapova scrambling. Sharapova refused to be intimidated and dragged herself level at 4-4 when Serena sent a backhand wide. But there was no respite for Sharapova and she was under pressure immediately as Serena broke serve for a third time, clenching her fist as a forehand winner flew past the outstretched Sharapova. Serena then held serve to claim the opener after 51 minutes. Sharapova began the second set at full throttle, bombarding Serena's baseline, but it was Serena who was calmer, mixing up her game to threaten an early break. Serena failed to convert two break points at 0-0 but at 1-1 the pressure began to tell on Sharapova, who surrendered serve with a miss-hit backhand into the tramlines. Four-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova hung on in the hope that Serena's level would drop, but the American was relentless in pursuit of more major silverware. Serving for the championship at 5-4, Serena fixed her stare on Sharapova, fired down an ace, then jabbed away a backhand winner and completed victory with two more aces before dropping to her knees in celebration. Garin and Bencic win junior titles Christian Garin of Chile and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland won the boys' and girls' junior French Open titles in straight sets. The unseeded Garin beat fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-4, 6-1, and the second-seeded Bencic dropped one game less in a 6-1, 6-3 win over No. 5 Antonia Lottner of Germany. The 17-year-old Garin was the more clinical player, converting four of his six break points, compared to one of five for the 16-year-old Zverev. Both girls, who are 16, struggled on their serves, but Bencic took advantage better, converting seven of her 13 break points, compared to just three of 12 for Lottner. — Agencies 30 and older champions Martina Navratilova, 1990 Wimbledon, 33 years-263 days Virginia Wade, 1977 Wimbledon, 31-357 Serena Williams, 2013 French Open, 31-256 Billie Jean King, 1975 Wimbledon, 31-225 Chris Evert, 1986 French Open, 31-169 Margaret Court, 1973 US Open, 31-55 Serena Williams, 2012 US Open, 30-347 Martina Navratilova, 1987 US Open, 30-331 Margaret Court, 1973 French Open, 30-322 Billie Jean King, 1974 US Open, 30-290 Serena Williams, 2012 Wimbledon, 30-284 Ann Jones, 1969 Wimbledon, 30-261 Martina Navratilova, 1987 Wimbledon, 30-260 Chris Evert, 1985 French Open, 30-170 Margaret Court, 1973 Australian Open, 30-169
