The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s world number one player has reached the singles final at Roland Garros.
Facing Dinara Safina on Saturday is former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Safina, the top seed, cruised to a straight sets victory against twentieth seed Dominika Cibulkova on Thursday.
Today’s match was just Cibulkova’s second career match-up against a World No.1 ranked player, after losing to then-No.1 Jelena Jankovic at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Although she was beaten by Safina in two sets, Cibulkova had multiple opportunities to prolong the match. Safina hit seven double faults and twenty-four unforced errors, and Cibulkova only managed to convert one of her eight break point chances.
Safina has now won 20 of her last 21 matches (including titles in Rome and Madrid) since becoming the No.1 ranked player on April 20, 2009.
Awaiting Safina in Saturday’s championship match is a familiar foe, Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kuznetsova outlasted a stiff challenge from Australian Samantha Stosur in the second semifinal before winning 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3.
When asked about facing her countrywoman in an all-Russian final, Safina said that it would be a good match between her and Kuznetsova.
“I think it’s going to be just great,” Safina said. “It’s going to be great for the young kids watching us. I think it was 2004 when it was an all-Russian final.”
The last all-Russian final at Roland Garros was between Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva five years ago. Myskina won her first and only major title in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
