Amelie Mauresmo battled back to defeat Mary Pierce 5-7 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 in the first all-French final of the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles.
As a result Mauresmo etched her name in the record books by becoming the first French player to win the year-end event - for which she earned one million US dollars (£575,000) and the Billie Jean King Waterford crystal bowl.
Mauresmo, who reached the final of the 1999 Australian Open but has never won a Grand Slam, finally captured an important title.
And she reckons the sky is the limit following her epic win against her Fed Cup team-mate.
The 26-year-old secured the biggest title of her career after coming from a set down to beat compatriot Pierce 5-7 7-6 (3) 6-4 after a three-hours-and-six-minute marathon.
Mauresmo has earned an unwanted reputation for failing to perform in the big matches but showed great mental resolve to hold off 30-year-old Pierce, who is enjoying an amazing resurgence late in her career.
Now world number three, Mauresmo is only below Lindsay Davenport and Kim Clijsters in the WTA rankings and is hoping this win will be the springboard to greater success.
"This is a great step I have climbed in my career and I don't know where it's going to lead me," she said.
"I really enjoyed the way I played during that match and the way I coped with it mentally.
"The match was of an extraordinary level. I believe this has been one of the best female tennis matches this year. It was very intense.
"This result proves that French tennis is very well at the moment," she added.
While disappointed to lose, Pierce admitted her unexpected surge back up the tennis tree was an "incredible" achievement and set her sights on the world number one spot.
After starting the season ranked 29th, finishing runner-up at the French Open sparked a flurry of final appearances which have seen her move back into the top five.
"It's always tough to lose, especially in a final and after such a tight match where I had opportunities," she said.
"I did not play my best tennis but I gave the best I had. I was tired at the start of the match, my legs were burning but as the match went on I got better.
"What I have achieved in the second part of my season is incredible. Since Roland Garros, I was finalist in all the tournaments I played except at Wimbledon, where I reached the quarter-finals.
"Next year my ambition will be to become world number one. This is an objective that I consider is possible."
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