Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE game-by-game coverage of the 2015 French Open women's final between Serena Williams and Lucie Safarova. The world number one is targeting a 20th Grand Slam crown, but only a third at Roland Garros, while 13th seed, Safarova is featuring in her maiden major final.

WILLIAMS 2-1 SAFAROVA. The number 13 seed shows nifty footwork and ingenuity to prod a lobbed attempt to the baseline and stir it up a touch at 30-30. There is no sign of the underdog being overawed but she blows a crosscourt attempt just wide of the left flank she is facing to allow Williams to unload a bomb of an ace to seal it.

WILLIAMS 1-1 SAFAROVA. A trio of forehand errors from Williams help Safarova along as the Czech gets on the board with a game to 30.

WILLIAMS 1-0 SAFAROVA. Safarova settles any early nerves with a scorching backhand winner down the line but can't get a foothold in the game as Williams fires down some big serves. A sweeping winner of her own is followed by an ace down the middle T to get Serena off to a fine start.

The players are out on court. It's Serena's 24th major final versus Lucie's first! Williams will get us underway by serving once the warm up concludes.

Safarova has never met Williams on clay and is relishing the chance to play in her first GS final. She said: "It's the first time for me, so it's kind of new. I like all the surfaces, but I think that in the Czech Republic when we grew up, we played a lot through the summer on the clay courts. Through the winter we have to go indoors, which are usually very fast surfaces. So you kind of train from a small kid to play on anything. I think that forms our game."

On the subject of her health struggles, Williams told reporters: "I think I have some kind of flu, which makes it tough, because it's just a matter of resting and keeping hydrated - there's not much else I can do. I've felt really cold, so I'm just fighting that, trying to sweat it out." She added: "Being in the final here in Paris means so much to me and it's very upsetting that I feel so lousy right now. It's really unfortunate to be like this at the Grand Slam where I feel so at home and really want to win. I just have to hope that I will be feeling a lot better and able give my best on court."

HEAD-TO-HEAD: This is their first meeting at a Grand Slam, but unsurprisingly Williams owns the head-to-head with a 100 per cent record from eight meetings.

THE GREAT LEVELLER? The players are due on court at 2pm BST. There's no doubt who the favourite is, but Williams was clearly struggling with illness during her semi final win over Timea Bacsinszky and did not practice ahead of this final on Friday. Will she be strong enough to see off an in-form Safarova who has yet to drop a set at this tournament? It remains to be seen. One thing's for sure, Williams has the pedigree when it comes to major finals. She knows how to win and even with illness she has proven to be a tough competitor.