Maria Sharapova is fully aware she has had a tough path en route to today’s Roland Garros final, fighting back from a set down in each of her three previous matches, but the Russian is confident as she targets a second title in Paris.
Sharapova has spent 10 hours on court so far this tournament – three and a half hours more than her final opponent Simona Halep, who is yet to drop a set this fortnight.
“I’ve had some really tough matches where I’ve been pushed. In the last three matches especially,” concedes the seventh-seeded Sharapova, who was a winner at Roland Garros in 2012.
“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 I should have, but [still] finding myself playing for another major.”
The two finalists approach the match with hugely contrasting levels of French Open experience behind them.
Sharapova – who is in the final for a third straight year – is gunning for a 50th victory at Roland Garros, while Halep has only played 11 matches in total at the French Open (her record is 7-4) and will be contesting her first major final.
Halep has made a rapid rise in the rankings and this time last year she was 57th in the world.
She will rise to No3 when the new rankings come out on Monday, irrespective of today’s result, and has won seven titles in the past 12 months.
“In terms of ranking and where she’s positioning herself, I think that’s a great quality in a player, to be able to be so consistent week-in, week-out," Sharapova said of Halep.
“I think she won six titles last year and that’s pretty impressive. So obviously to be in that position, she deserves that (ranking). That’s a position I want to be in, so I’m gunning for that.
"I think she has a very solid game. She is a very physical opponent and it's always a very physical match against her.”
Sharapova has beaten Halep in each of their three previous meetings but their most recent match in the Madrid Open final was a gruelling encounter which went to three sets.
“I have to take that revenge, I will fight for this one." said the 22-year-old Halep.
"I played a really good match in the first set in Madrid. I started really well, I was very fast on court, and I opened the angles.
“But she came back and she hit strong. Now, I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like is my style, and to stay there with the nerves. It will be a tough moment for me.
“Against (Svetlana) Kuznetsova (in the semi-finals) it was extra motivation at this tournament because she beat me in Stuttgart.
“So it will be extra motivation for me to beat Sharapova.”
Halep, a junior champion here in 2008, would be the first Romanian women’s singles champion in Paris since 1978 when the trophy was won by Virginia Ruzici, who is currently her manager.
The No4 seed believes she has “nothing to lose” in the final and believes controlling her nerves will be key.
Sharapova will improve to No5 in the world if she beats Halep, and to No6 if she loses in the final.
