By Caroline Cheese BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Full match report More photos from the final Sharapova profile

Newly crowned Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova said her achievement only sunk in when she saw her name on the roll of honour outside Centre Court.

"It's amazing really, I'm absolutely speechless," said the 17-year-old, who beat Serena Williams in straight sets.

"It's always been my dream to come here and win but it was never in my mind that I would do it this year.

"When I came off court and saw my name on that board with all the champions, that was when I realised what I'd done.

Sharapova revealed she had been crying on Friday night when she developed a cold.

"I thought I was going to get sick and I was in tears. I didn't think I'd be ready to go out and win," she said.

But she said nerves had not been a factor in her first Grand Slam final appearance.

I was really happy for Maria because I know that feeling and there's nothing better Serena Williams More reaction from Serena

"I did not think about it being a final, I didn't think who I was playing, I was just concentrating on my own game," she said.

"I don't know how I won. I don't know what the tactics were. I just didn't care what was going on around me - I was in my own little world.

"I just told myself the power was in me and if I put my mind to something, I can do it."

Sharapova, the third youngest women's winner at Wimbledon in history, said she was looking forward to the champions' ball on Sunday night, before adding: "I can't believe I'm saying 'I'm going to the ball'."