PARIS — Simona Halep threw her racket on the red clay, its redemptive work done for the day, and thrust her arms high overhead as she beamed on a court that has brought her plenty of heartache.

In the stands, Darren Cahill, Halep’s normally pulled-together coach, was unsuccessfully fighting back tears. High up in the commentary booth, Chris Evert, a seven-time French Open champion, was tearing up, too, well aware of how it feels to have a Grand Slam drought come to a happy end.

Already No. 1, Halep proved on Saturday that she could win the big one, too.

After losing her first three major finals, she rallied to defeat Sloane Stephens, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, to win the French Open and join the ranks of leading players whose perseverance paid off with a major singles title.

“I was dreaming for this moment since actually I started to play tennis,” Halep said. “It’s my favorite Grand Slam. I always said that if I’m going to win one, I want it to be here. It’s real now.”