Kvitova was playing in her first major final, but it was three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova that showed her nerves. The 2004 Wimbledon winner double-faulted six times, including twice to get broken to 4-2 in the first set.
The 21-year-old Czech is the first left-handed woman to win the Wimbledon title since Martina Navratilova in 1990.
Kvitova kept Sharapova on the run with 18 winners, and never seemed to lose confidence despite being broken three times.
“Today, I felt that I can.” Kvitova said.