Serena, Muguruza to clash in French Open final

Serena Williams overcame a gritty challenge from unseeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens, winning 7-6(7), 6-4, to reach the French Open final, in Paris, on Friday.

The victory put the world No 1 just one match away from a record-equalling 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

The American will meet Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza, who reached her second Grand Slam final when she beat Australia’s Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in the first semi-final at Roland Garros. 

Williams, who won the first of her three Roland Garros crowns in 2002, survived a first-set scare for the second day running, saving two sets points before winning the tie-break.

With the Philippe Chatrier showcourt still little more than half full as unseasonably cold kept thousands of ticket-holders away, the drama continued into the second set, when Williams was broken again to trail 2-0.

But she broke straight back and conceded just two further games to reach Saturday's final, where she will be hoping to equal Steffi Graf's Grand Slam singles record.

Earlier, the 22-year-old Muguruza, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, became the first Spanish woman to reach the French Open final since Conchita Martinez in 2000.

Muguruza made the most of Stosur's mediocre first serve on Court Suzanne Lenglen to race to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, also relying on her booming forehand to outpace the 2010 runner-up.

She held off Stosur's late comeback charge in the second set to seal a well-deserved berth in the final.