Sharapova makes it back to French Open final

Updated: 2014-06-06 09:12

(Agencies)

Sharapova makes it back to French Open final

Simona Halep of Romania returns the ball to Andrea Petkovic of Germany during their women's semifinal match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, June 5, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

In the second semifinal, Halep played aggressive tennis in the first set. She finished the set with 12 winners and seven unforced errors, while Petkovic had only three winners and 14 unforced errors.

The second set was much closer as Petkovic played with more consistency, but the 22-year-old Romanian was able to close it out in the tiebreaker with a forehand winner.

"The thing is against Simona, I have to play really aggressive and you have to step into the court so she doesn't have the time to play her game," Petkovic said, "because when she starts opening up the court she plays super smart, and she really uses the whole court."

Halep is trying to become only the second Romanian woman to win the French Open. The first was Viriginia Ruzici, now Halep's manager, in 1978.

"I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there with the nerves," said Halep, who will move to No 3 in the rankings next week. "It will be a tough moment for me. I know."

Both Halep and Petkovic were playing in a major semifinal for the first time. Bouchard, however, also reached this stage at the Australian Open in January.