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French Open Women's singles final preview

There could still be a new name on the women's trophy at the French Open final in Paris on Saturday, but it won't be Maria Sharapova.

The 20-year-old Russian, who has already won the US and Wimbledon titles, was knocked for six by Serbia's Ana Ivanovic on Thursday afternoon.

Now only double defending champion and three-times winner Justine Henin stands between the rising starlet and a first women's Grand Slam title for Serbia, in her first appearance in a major final.
The 19-year-old seventh seed shattered Sharapova 6-2 6-1 to book her place in the final, but Henin prevented an all-Serbian final by beating Jelena Jankovic.

Ivanovic was buoyant going into the tournament after her victory in the German Open last month and she capped a dominant performance by clinching victory over Sharapova with an ace, in a match she controlled from the outset.
No wonder she said: "It will be my first Grand Slam final. I will look forward to it. I am so excited about it."

Henin was just as formidable in the second semi-final in beating another Belgrade star in Jankovic 6-2 6-2. It means she is once again through to the final without dropping a set. She hasn't conceded a set in 17 matches in Paris - not since the last 16 in 2005.

"I expected a tough battle against Jankovic," said the Belgian, who has put the distress of her marriage break-up behind her in storming through the rounds in Paris, after missing the Australian Open in January.

But for all her dominance she is not treating Ivanovic lightly. "It will be a tough battle," warned the 25-year-old.
Intriguingly, the two players have met just once and that was back in 2005, when Henin won on clay 6-4 7-5 in the Warsaw tournament semi-finals - but Ivanovic has grown since then.

Henin went into Paris action with a formidable year-to-date record of 22 wins and three defeats, with three title triumphs taking her to 32 titles overall.

Ivanovic started out in Paris with a 24-9 win/loss record, has that German title to her name this year and has won three tournaments overall on the women's tour.
There's no doubting though that Henin will start out as favourite on experience alone.

She has won the French title in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and won all the other Grand Slams with the exception of Wimbledon, where she was runner-up last year.

Her win/loss record in Paris is an awesome 28-4, but experience doesn't guarantee her victory. If Ivanovic goes about the final with the carefree confidence with which she demolished Sharapova, then Serbia will have plenty to shout about.

She had a 6-2 win/loss record going into Paris but her previous best Grand Slam performance was in the French Open in 2005 - her first visit to Roland Garros - when she reached the quarter-finals. Now she is on the verge of a fairytale.

Henin is trading at 1.24 on Betfair to lift the title for the third year in a row, while Ivanovic is on offer at 5 to become a teenage champion.

The punters support for the Belgian is highlighted by the set betting, with a 2-0 Henin victory the market favourite at 1.7.