By Erik Gudris | Friday, June 6, 2014

 

Maria Sharapova survived multiple three set matches in reaching the French Open final. Waiting for her is Simona Halep, who is making her Grand Slam final debut.

Photo Credit: Peter Staples

If Maria Sharapova and her quest for a fifth Grand Slam title at this year's French Open could be described in one phrase, it might be "mission impossible." 

That's what it's felt like over the last two weeks for the Russian superstar as she survived a potentially rough early draw followed by not one, not two, but three come from behind wins to reach her third straight French Open final. But as we've learned from Sharapova over the years, when her back is against the wall, that's when she starts kicking. And hard.

When defending champion Serena Wililams loomed as a possible quarterfinal opponent, Sharapova's chances for a return trip to the second Saturday looked bleak. That all changed when Williams lost, or rather, was dismissed by Spanish sensation Garbine Muguruza in the second round. Suddenly, Sharapova's life got a lot sunnier it seemed. But actually her draw was filled with unexpected trouble just waiting for her.

Aussie Sam Stosur, who Sharapova had owned in most of their previous matches, looked like she might kick serve Sharapova out of the tournament in the fourth round. That was before Sharapova found a ray of light and reeled off game after game that ended with Sharapova roaring with delight on handing Stosur a third set bagel.

Sharapova weathered another first set assault in her quarterfinal versus Muguruza. Though the Spaniard looked ready to perhaps pull off yet another upset, inexperience caught up with her in the end. That led to the much anticipated and hyped semifinal against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard who some view as Sharapova's doppelgänger. Once again, Sharapova overcame a rough start and even rougher serving before finally pulling away from the Canadian in three sets.

It hasn't been easy or pretty for Sharapova to reach Saturday's final. Someone who has made it look both is Romania's Simona Halep.

While Sharapova struggled, Halep clicked off each of her straight set wins by doing everything just a little better than her opponents. Despite being a top four seed and then the highest seed left after the carnage of upsets within the women's draw, Halep marched on with nary a hiccup or hesitation.

Biding her time in many rallies this fortnight, Halep with a flick of her wrist easily changed direction or pace leaving her opponent scrambling in defense. In her semifinal win over Andrea Petkovic, Halep proved she has plenty of power too. On match point, Halep popped in a big serve followed by a potent forehand winner. A tactic straight of Sharapova's own playbook.

But now the big test comes on Saturday with Halep entering her first major final while this is Sharapova's ninth of her career. We know how bad Sharapova wants this title with each exultant celebration she's displayed in each of her wins. Halep's own after each of her victories feel more like she's enjoying each match as a yet another step forward not just in the event, but in her own evolution as a player.

Will Halep be overwhelmed by the moment? And will she be overwhelmed by Sharapova's power? Even Halep, who has lost all three previous meetings against Sharapova, isn't sure. Though she knows she has to play better than when she last met Sharapova in the Madrid final from a few weeks ago.

"Yeah, I don't know how I have to play to beat Maria. But if I can beat Maria, better to say. But I have to take that revenge. I will fight for this one," Halep said after her semifinal win. "Now, I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there with the nerves. It will be a tough moment for me. I know. I'm sure that will be. But I have to be happy and just to enjoy. I cannot say how I will feel Saturday. I cannot now. I don't know how is it to play a final of a Grand Slams."

While Halep may be a bundle of positive nerves and hopeful uncertainty, her opponent will be the opposite. Sharapova's objective is clear and she's prepared once again to stay out there as long as it takes.

"Well, I would love to win those matches in two sets, but I always feel like I put in the work to be ready to play whatever it takes. If it takes three hours to win the match in three sets, I will be ready for that," Sharapova said about her recent 19th three-set win on clay. "But I will do whatever it takes. If I don't start good, if I lose the first set, I'm going to be there until the end."

Seeing Sharapova at the end of this French Open didn't seem a likely outcome when the draw came out. But Sharapova is once again in the final thanks to the best weapon she possesses -- her will to win. So long as she holds onto that, even if she finds herself in one more three setter, then her once impossible mission will turn into yet another Grand Slam reality.

Pick: Sharapova