Top 10 most unlikely champions in sports history

There have been numerous instances in sports history where underdogs have emerged as the champions displacing the favorites in a tournament. It is heartening to see athletes who were thought to have very little chances of winning a title go on to win silverware in the biggest of events across the world.Teams have also shown that it is not individual brilliance that wins you championships, but teamwork.We look at 10 such champions who beat the best :

#10 Francesca Schiavone - 2010 French Open

With the likes of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Li Na, Maria Sharapova in the main draw at the 2010 French Open, no one gave No. 17 seed Francesca Schiavone a chance at claiming her first Grand Slam title.

The Italian got off to a worst possible start losing the opening set in her first round match against the unseeded Russian Regina Kulikova. Schiavone did not look back after that as she went on to win her remaining matches in straight sets. She beat two time Grand Slam champion Li Na in the third round, Maria Kirilenko in the fourth round, No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinal,No.5 seed Elena Dementieva in the semifinal.

She faced Australian Samantha Stosur in the final, who was playing her first Grand Slam final as well. The Italian handled her nerves and got the better of Stosur in two tight sets to win her first and only Grand Slam in singles.