Francesca Schiavone has become the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, beating Australia's Samantha Stosur in the final of the French Open in Paris.
An inspired Schiavone, a semi-finalist at the Auckland Classic in January, tamed Stosur's greater power to win 6-4 7-6, completing victory when Stosur mishit a backhand.
Both women were making their grand slam final debuts but it was the 29-year-old Schiavone who seized her chance with some tremendous attacking play.
After dropping the first set Stosur moved 4-1 ahead in the second but the tenacious Schiavone stormed back to take the set into a tiebreak and moved 6-2 ahead with a superb volley.
She needed just one chance to take the title, celebrating by before falling onto her back and kissing the Court Philippe Chatrier Court before climbing into the stands to embrace her entourage.
Stosur, struggling to hold back the tears, was gracious in defeat as she missed out on becoming the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbldon in 1980.
The loss means that Stosur remains at No.7 in the world rankings, while Schiavone leapfrogs her to No.6 and becomes, at 29, the oldest the oldest first-time Grand Slam winner since 1969.
The Milanese turns 30 later this month.