Serena to meet Muguruza in French final

Sydney

In the second semi-final Serena Williams beat Kiki Bertens 7-6(7), 6-4.

The World No. 1, attempting to win her 22nd Grand Slam title was stretched in the first set but returned stronger in the second to emerge victorious.

Earlier, the 22-year-old Muguruza,  runner-up at Wimbledon last year, became the first Spanish woman to reach the Roland Garros final since Conchita Martinez in 2000.

Muguruza made the most of Stosur’s mediocre first serve on Court Suzanne Lenglen to race to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, also relying on her booming forehand to outpace the 2010 runner-up.

Muguruza held off Stosur’s late comeback charge to set up a final showdown with either defending champion Serena Williams or Dutch danger woman Kiki Bertens.

Stosur served first, and was immediately under pressure. The fourth-seeded Muguruza hit a forehand smash at the net to earn two break points and converted the first to take a 1-0 lead.

She then served out the set, with a volleyed forehand winner bringing up set point and Stosur then hitting a backhand service return long, for a 6-2 first set in 34 minutes.