Henin to face Ivanovic in final

Tennis:  World number one Justine Henin stayed on course for a rare French Open hat-trick when she outplayed Serbia's Jelena…

Tennis: World number one Justine Henin stayed on course for a rare French Open hat-trick when she outplayed Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-2 to reach the final.

Top seed Henin, trying to become the first woman to win three successive crowns at Roland Garros since Monica Seles in 1992, will face another player from Serbia in Ana Ivanovic in Saturday's title match.

Fourth-seeded Jankovic, 22, lacked composure when it mattered. Hampered by a weak serve, she was never really in contention and bowed out by sending a forehand wide on the first match point after 8O minutes of play.

The 25-year-old Henin, who also won here in 2003, will still top the rankings next week after world number two Maria Sharapova lost 6-2 6-1 to Ivanovic in the other semi-final to reach the first Grand Slam final of her career.

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The seventh seed took full advantage of an error-strewn performance from the former Wimbledon champion and wrapped up victory in just 65 minutes. Not that anything should be taken away from the Serb's display - she dominated from the outset.

However, it had to be said that Sharapova would have struggled to beat most players on a day when her famed serve was battered and her forehand fell to pieces.

Unforced errors flowed from the second seed's racquet - especially on that forehand side - while Ivanovic forced her into plenty more.

The writing was on the wall from the moment Sharapova was broken in her opening service game, a stunning forehand winner down the line moving Ivanovic into a 2-0 lead.

It was soon 5-1 and although Sharapova managed her only break of the match in the following game, a double fault handed Ivanovic the first set.

The 19-year-old was pulling her more experienced opponent around the court and Sharapova was unable to stem the flow.

In the second set, again the Russian lost her opening service game and when she coupled a double fault with a forehand error in the fourth game - two points which summed up her day - she was 4-0 down and staring defeat in the face.

Sharapova was soon put out of her misery with Ivanovic clinching her place in Saturday's final with a blistering ace.

Ivanovic could now face fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic in Saturday's final - she is currently on court in the second semi against defending champion Justine Henin.