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It has been a French Open full of surprises this year. The predictions that were doing the rounds before the first Sunday at Roland Garros have fallen flat. This year’s final will feature the No.7 seed Maria Sharapova taking on the No. 4 seed Simona Halep.
Sharapova is one of the greatest competitors out there and we know what to expect from the Russian. She completed her career Grand Slam at Roland Garros two years ago. This is her third straight French Open final and ninth Grand Slam final overall. Her route to the final hasn’t been an easy one.
She has won her last three matches after being a set down. Sharapova has a slight edge over her opponent in the final as she is accustomed to the pressure the occasion demands.
“I’ve had some really tough matches where I’ve been pushed,” Sharapova said. “In the last three matches especially. A lot of times in my career I’ve felt better coming off those matches knowing that I might not have played my best tennis or just didn’t feel as great as maybe I should have or done the right things, but I came through and I’m finding myself playing for another major.”
Sharapova has had a terrific run on clay in the last two years, losing only to Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic. She has a 19-0 record when it comes to three set matches.
Her opponent Halep would not like to play a three setter, you would imagine!
Halep has had a dream run in the tournament, without losing a set. This is her first Grand Slam final and it will be interesting to see how she handles the nerves. Halep was ranked No. 57, 12 months ago and was ousted in the first round last year. Irrespective of the final result, she will rise to a career-high ranking of 3 on Monday.
“I cannot say how I will feel Saturday, I cannot now. I don’t know how is it to play a final of a Grand Slam,” she said.
The Romanian is good at playing rallies, making her opponent run from side to side. She opens up angles through her off-four hand as well as backhand crosscourt.
Sharapova has won all their 3 previous meetings. The last time they met was in the Madrid finals this year, with Sharapova winning it 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“I think she has a very solid game. She is a very physical opponent. Always a very physical match against her and you must be ready to play however long it takes to win the match against her,” Sharapova said.
“Yeah, I don’t know how I have to play to beat Maria,” Halep said, laughing. “Or if I can beat Maria, better to say. But I have to take that revenge. I will fight for this one. I played a really good match in Madrid first set. I started really well. I was very fast on court, and I opened the angles very well. But she came back very, very well and she hit strong, stronger than me at that moment. Now, I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there with the nerves.”
The last Romanian to win the French Open was Virginia Ruzici in 1978. Incidentally, she is the manager of Halep.
Halep is the higher seed due to her consistency over the last year, where she won 7 titles with her best win coming at Qatar this February.
“She’s very tough player, so will be a tough match. I will do everything, and I will try to stay relaxed and to hit, to play my game. Because if I play my game relaxed and with pleasure, to be aggressive and to play fast, I think I have chances,” Halep said.
Prediction: Maria Sharapova in three sets.
