Elena Dementieva has become the first Russian woman to reach a grand slam singles final in 30 years after beating Argentina's Paola Suarez 6-0 7-5 in a nervy French Open semi-final.
The ninth seed raced through the first set in 27 minutes and held herself together to set up a final against either seventh-seeded American Jennifer Capriati or Anastasia Myskina, the number six seed from Russia.
"It is a dream for me to be in the final," Dementieva said. "It was not very easy to play today because Paola is a very good claycourt player.
"I was tired and a little distressed in the second set but I tried to be aggressive and I ended up doing exactly what I wanted to do."
Olga Morozova, Dementieva's travelling coach, was the last Russian woman to reach a grand slam final, at Wimbledon in 1974.
She also reached the final at the French Open the month before, losing both matches to Chris Evert.
Belarussian Natasha Zvereva reached the final of the French Open in 1988, although she was representing the Soviet Union.
Suarez, a doubles specialist appearing in her first grand slam semi-final, appeared almost paralysed by nerves in the opening set.
Moving slowly, the Argentine double-faulted four times and made 16 unforced errors to hand Dementieva the first set in just 27 minutes.
But after being broken in the opening game of the second set, 22-year-old Dementieva, whose only other grand slam semi-final appearance was at the US Open in 2000, began to struggle.
Mistakes flowed from both players as the first six games went against serve, Dementieva sending down a succession of double faults to allow Suarez back into the match.
The Argentine grew in confidence and a lucky net cord gave her another break in the ninth game, leaving her to serve for the set at 5-4.
Again her nerve failed her, though, and Dementieva broke back, held her own serve and then clinched victory when Suarez served her eighth double fault of the match.