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French Open 2015
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Serena Williams came through a reasonably straightforward semi-final against Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky. Photo: AFP
SportTennis

Serena Williams a clear favourite in French Open final

Despite illness, the American looks on course for a 20th grand slam title against Czech underdog Lucie Safarova

French Open 2015
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Serena Williams plays Lucie Safarova in the French Open final today and the odds, on paper and also by the statistics, are hugely in the American’s favour.

Only the top seed’s fragile state of health, it seems, stands in the way of what would be a 20th grand slam title – just two shy of the Open-era record of 22 set by Steffi Graf.

A new trophy to add to her collection would also take her halfway to winning all four grand slam titles in the same year – a feat only previously achieved by four women in the history of the sport, the last being Graf in 1988.

I caught the flu after my third-round match and have been struggling ever since
Serena Williams

Williams, 33, is the consummate finisher in grand slams.

In 23 major finals, she has lost just four times – twice to sister Venus and once to each of Maria Sharapova and Samantha Stosur.

In contrast, Safarova, at 28, five years younger than her opponent, will be playing in her first grand slam final after 12 years as a pro, mostly spent in the shadows.
Williams says she has felt unwell throughout this competition. Photo: Xinhua
Her head-to-head record against Williams is a dismal 0-8 and prior to this year she had never made it past the last 16 at Roland Garros in 10 previous unremarkable Paris campaigns.

Williams’ 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Swiss surprise Timea Bacsinszky in the semi-finals was at times painful to watch as she coughed and spluttered, and staggered about the court fighting her illness.

Struck by another bout of coughing, she was forced to abandon her courtside interview immediately after clinching the win over Bacsinszky after saying just a few words.

Later she said that she had never felt so ill.

“I caught the flu after my third-round match and have been struggling ever since,” she said.
The American is a big bookmakers favourite for the final on Sunday. Photo: EPA
On her prospects for today’s final, she added: “I just hope I can get better from here.”
I just hope I can get better from here
Serena Williams

Safarova, a late blossomer whose nice-girl reputation belies a steely determination, said she had nothing to lose against Williams in what will be the biggest match of her career.

Talking before the Williams match ended, she said: “I mean Serena is number one in the world, great player. So whoever will be there, I will just go there and play my game and obviously try to get the trophy.”

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