Sharapova takes on Williams at French Open final MyZA

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

It will be a first for both women at Roland Garros as Sharapova has the crown of defending champion and Williams is set to be in a final here after more than 10 years.

On Thursday after a titanic battle with Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova made her first entry into a final as defending champion.

The Russian who won the Wimbledon title in 2004 as a teenager went on to win the US Open in 2006 followed by the Australian Open in 2008.

Never before this has the 26-year-old gone into a final as the defending champion and so the nerves for Sharapova will be high in this clash with Serena Williams today.

Serena Williams on the other hand will be in a French Open final after 11 years. It was in 2002 when as a 20 year old that she won her first and till date only title at Roland Garros.

Now at 31, the 15 time singles Grand Slam winner is bidding to add another clay court title to her list of titles that boast of multiple US, Australian and Wimbledon wins. Serena has won all other Grand Slams more than once except the French.

With French coach Patrick Mouratoglou who has helped improve her focus and overall game, the World No1 looks for her second French Open title.

The 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Sara Errani in the semi-finals showed that Williams is focused and wants to win the French Open more than anything else at the moment.

But nerves at a Grand Slam are always something that exist and Serena knows she is not the strongest on clay. However, her 6-1 6-4 victory over Sharapova on the clay in Madrid will give the American a boost today.

The winner of the French Open will be a woman who is best able to control her nerves as history beckons both Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. – DNA