After that epic semifinal match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it will be up to Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova to, if not quite match, but at least live up to the French Open final billing Saturday.
The two best players in the game have reached the final and with Williams gunning for her first French Open title since 2002, Sharapova will have to be at her absolute best is she is to make it a second consecutive Roland Garros crown.
Williams was at her ruthless best against Sara Errani in the semifinals, breezing past without breaking a sweat. However, the American will know all the hard work will come to nought if she falls at the final hurdle.
"It would awesome for me," Williams said of winning the French Open title. "I don't think there's anything that can describe how happy I would be.
"But right now it's still a dream. I still have another match to play -- hopefully to win. So it's still not -- you know, two people are still fighting for the championship.
"It will really feel special. I have never played Maria here actually, so it will be our first time playing here. It will be a great match I think for both of us. We both are doing so well and we both just really want to win. We're both really excited to be this far. So I think it's just going to be a great match."
If recent form between the two is anything to go by, the result will be a foregone conclusion with Williams holding a 13-2 record against Sharapova. The Russian has not beaten Williams in nine years, with her last win coming way back n 2004.
"I'd be lying if I said it doesn't bother me," the 26-year-old Sharapova said of her record against Williams. "I don't think that it would be a pretty competitive statement if I said it didn't.
"I would love to change that around. Obviously whatever I did in the past hasn't worked, so I'll have to try to do something different. I'm proud of the way that I came through this tournament. I have given myself a chance to face the favorite.
"Despite that record and despite me being unsuccessful against her, I believe that I'm happy to be setting up chances to be going out and facing her, someone that's been playing and dominating tennis for almost a year now.
"Her success has been incredible. But going into a French Open final, that doesn't matter. It all starts from zero. You've got to play until the last point and believe in yourself."
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