Paris: The French Open final on Saturday between Russian superstar Maria Sharapova and Romanian upstart Simona Halep sees a stark contrast in styles and status.
The 27-year-old Russian is the biggest name in women’s sport, a global icon, and the holder of four Grand Slam titles, the last coming in Paris two years ago when she became just the sixth woman in the Open era to complete a career sweep of the major titles.
Halep, an unassuming 22-year-old from the Black Sea port city of Constanta, will be playing in her first Grand Slam final, having struggled, like many before her, to make the transition from junior to senior level. Incidentally, Halep is the first Romanian woman to play in the French Open final after 36 years.
Sharapova will tower over her opponent at 1.88 metres (6 feet 2 inches) compared to Halep’s 1.68 metres (5 feet six inches).
But all the signs are there for one of the most intriguing French Open women’s finals in years and, many hope, the first to go to three sets since Jennifer Capriati defeated Kim Clijsters 12-10 in the third in 2001.
Halep, who has broken into the top bracket of women’s tennis in the last 18 months, has by far the most impressive figures of the two in this year’s tournament.
She has reached the final without dropping a set, while Sharapova in her last three matches has had to go all the way after losing the first set.
That never-say-die attitude has given the former world number one the remarkable record of winning 19 times in a row on clay when she has had to play a deciding set.
One of those came against Halep the last time the two met in the final of the Madrid Masters four weeks ago when Sharapova came through 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Now Halep talks of gaining “revenge” against a player she has played three times and lost against three times, although she admits she is not that sure how to go about it.
