By Erik Gudris | Thursday, June 5, 2014

 

Maria Sharapova finds herself back in the French Open final for a third straight year after defeating Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in three sets.

Photo credit: Peter Staples

For Maria Sharapova, experience and the will to win proved her greatest weapons in defeating a rising force in women's tennis.

Gulbis Says Women Should Avoid Pro Tennis. Is He Right?

Despite falling behind a set and being a few games from defeat, Sharapova rallied to defeat Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in a tense three-set semifinal at the French Open.

Sharapova, having lost the opening set in her last two matches, didn't want to continue that trend versus Bouchard. Yet the Canadian, who broke Sharapova late in the first set, would soon serve it out 6-4.

Now in a bid to win her 19th straight three set match on clay, Sharapova upped the pressure on Bouchard early in the second set. Despite struggling with her serve that yielded multiple double faults, Sharapova would surge out to a 4-1 lead. Sharapova's struggles continued while attempting to serve out the set later ahead 5-3. Double faults from Sharapova on two set points allowed Bouchard opportunities to break back. Bouchard did just that and later evened things for 5-all.

Sharapova broke back again for 6-5. Holding set points once more, Sharapova would finally convert for 7-5 after Bouchard netted a forehand for her 20th unforced error.

The final set highlighted Sharapova's experience in big matches and Bouchard's lack of it.

Down break point in the fourth game, Bouchard rifled a deep shot that sent Sharapova scrambling on the baseline. Bouchard hesitated moving forward and instead of punching Sharapova's reply into the open court sent her own shot into the net.

That error gave Sharapova a 3-1 lead. She extended it to 4-1 in the next game when again Bouchard would send a shot well wide despite having control of the point.

Leading 5-2, Sharapova didn't wait for her chance to close out the match. Sharapova would hold multiple match points on Bouchard's serve. Yet Bouchard fought off four of them and looked poised to hold serve. Sharapova punished a weak second serve that set up her fifth match point. A deep backhand from Sharapova that skidded off the baseline finally sealed the 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Sharapova not only returns to the French Open final for a third straight year but she also is projected to remain inside the top 10.

Sharapova will face Simona Halep in Saturday's women's championship match.