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Rediff.com  » Sports » Sharapova on verge of third French Open final in a row
This article was first published 10 years ago

Sharapova on verge of third French Open final in a row

June 05, 2014 08:48 IST

Image: Maria Sharapova of Russia
Photographs: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Clay has long been Maria Sharapova's least favoured surface, but the Russian, who takes on Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday, is on the brink of reaching her third successive French Open final, a feat she has never achieved in the other grand slams.

Sharapova, who won the title in Paris in 2012 and lost in the final last year, will need to douse the up-and-coming Bouchard, the 18th seed who has yet to beat a top-ranked player at Roland Garros.

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Sharapova on verge of third French Open final in a row

Image: Maria Sharapova of Russia returns a shot
Photographs: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Seventh seed Sharapova has been showing her usual fighting spirit, overcoming the loss of the first set in her last two matches.

The other semi-final on court Philippe Chatrier will feature German 28th seed against Romanian fourth see Simona Halep, who has been blazing her way through the draw.

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Sharapova on verge of third French Open final in a row

Image: Simona Halep of Romania
Photographs: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Halep, who compensates her lack of power with her tactical nous, has lost just over four games per match and has yet to drop a set.

She won the 2008 junior title and will face an opponent she beat a year ago in the final of the Nuremberg claycourt tournament.