Serena Williams powered her way to the French Open title Saturday with a straight sets victory over defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia. The top seed from the United States ran out a 6-4 6-4 winner in one hour 46 minutes to clinch her 16th grand slam crown. Sharapova put up a brave fight but could not prevent Williams from claiming her first French Open title since her maiden triumph in 2002. The 26-year-old had not beaten her American opponent since 2004 and despite taking a 2-0 lead then found Williams an irresistible force. Serving for the match, Williams took the first of two championship points, clinching it with a thunderous ace, her 10th of a gripping final. "I was so nervous, I'm just happy to be champion," she told the crowd on the Philippe Chatrier Court, speaking in French. "I played a great tournament and ran into a really tough champion today," said the beaten Sharapova.