The Grills And Thrills Of Simona And Sharapova

Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep step on to the Philippe Chatrier Court the Final of the French Open Women Singles at 3:00PM; it will a battle of a little unknown Romanian girl against a Russian Princess who has graced the Roland Garros stadium on countless occasions from season to season.

Since winning Wimbledon in 2003 at the age of 17 at the expense of Serena Williams, ten years after, Russian princess Maria Sharapova is still at the top her game with a record three straight french finals, including Saturday's final Simona Halep.

The currently ranked World number 7 is appearing in the ninth Grand Slam Singles final of her career. Since the beginning of 2012 Sharapova has owned the clay, going 53-4 and winning six of seven titles on the the red dried earth.

Though she has had to fight back from first sets down since the round of 16, when Sharapova gets to the final of any major Grand Slam, she does not succumb to nerves or awes of the crowd whether in cheers or jeers.

“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.”

All through the round of 16 games against Sam Stosur, Sharapova lost the first set 3-6, before gaining the second and the third on 6-4 6-0; with Muguruza she struddled in the first set with a 1-6 before finding her game later in the second and third to win 7-5 6-1. She fared better against Muguruza in the first set, though losing 4-6, she came back up to close the game at 7-5 6-2.

Sharapova's records are far threatening for the 22 year-old Simona Halep who likewise is not a stranger to the Roland Garros clay courts.

The Romanian had never made it beyond the first round of any major Grand Slam but just 12 months ago, she was ranked 57 by the WTA, even with no titles to her name. Halep has improved by leaps and bounds within the period from last year.

Consequent to making it to the 2014 Singles final, Simona currently ranked 4th will rise to a career-high No. 3 in the ATP rankings behind number one Serena Williams and Li Na; a career high for the little unknown.

Between 2013 and the current season, she has won seven titles, with her biggest been – The Qatar Open in February. Now she’s into her first career Grand Slam final.

“I cannot say how I will feel Saturday, I cannot now,”  said. “I don’t know how is it to play a final of a Grand Slams.”

On paper Halep is predictable as the winner, but on the court, she will have to increase on the one thing that has brought her this far, Aggression: She hugs the baseline, takes the ball early, and before you know it her opponent is being run ragged from side to side.

Her game is subtle, and she opens angles beautifully. At 5-foot-6 she doesn’t have the luxury of pure power accorded with heights and arm strength but there’s never that single counter-puncher shot like hers.

With the Women's champion decided today, the two unarguably will be facing familiar foes on different courts. Early in 2014, Sharapova beat Simona in the Mutua Madrid Open

“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, who praised Halep’s consistency from tournament to tournament.