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French Open: Simona Halep to face Sloane Stephens in final

June 7, 2018

Simona Halep reached her fourth Grand Slam final and her third at the French Open as her pursuit of a maiden major goes on. Her opponent will be American Sloane Stephens, who is chasing a second Grand Slam of her career.

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Tennis French Open 2018 Simona Halep
Image: Getty Images/AFP/T. Samson

World number one Simona Halep will have a third shot at glory in a French Open final after beating Garbine Muguruza — she will face American Sloane Stephens in the final.

Halep, a three-time beaten Grand Slam finalist including in 2014 and 2017 at Roland Garros, emphatically ended the impressive run of 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza with a 6-1, 6-4 victory on Thursday.

Halep's victory assured herself of retaining the No. 1 ranking, but it's that first Grand Slam title that still eludes the Romanian.

"I will try my best," Halep told the crowd at Court Phillipe Chatrier, "and hopefully I will be better than last year."

Tennis French Open 2018 Philippe-Chatrier Court
It was a full house on Court Philippe-Chatrier as Simona Halep beat Garbine Muguruza 6-1 6-4.Image: Getty Images/AFP/E. Feferberg

Her reward is a showdown with American Stephens, who maintained her perfect record against compatriot and friend Madison Keys, as she blazed into the final with a 6-4 6-4 win in a repeat of last year's US Open final.

In the first all-American Roland Garros semi-final since 2002, the 10th-seeded Stephens stayed composed throughout as Keys, who has not won a set against her in three meetings, peppered the court with unforced errors.

The 25-year-old Stephens will become the first American other than the Williams sisters to break into the top five in the WTA rankings since Lindsay Davenport — Keys's coach — in 2006. She will also become the first American finalist at Roland Garros outside of the Williams sisters since Jennifer Capriati in 2001.

The Roland Garros 2018 French Open - Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens was in fine form as she became the first American outside of the Williams sisters to reach the French Open final since 2001.Image: Getty Images/AFP/C. Simon

"It's always hard to play someone from your country and such a good friend, but I'm happy I played my tennis," Stephens said.

"This is one of my favourite tournaments and I'm looking forward to Saturday. Merci Paris, je t'aime.

"I love playing here. So like I said, making the quarter-finals here was a big deal for me. I was really pleased. And obviously making the semis and finals, there is not much more you can ask for in a player."

mds (AP, Reuters)