Justine looks to repeat

In 11 matches between the two, the Belgian has emerged victorious on all but one occasion. While their three matches on clay were all very tight, Justine will definitely go into Saturday's final with a psychological advantage. When they met here in last year's round of 16, Henin-Hardenne saved two match points before finally coming through 7-5 in the third set, so the girl from St Petersburg will be out for revenge.

It was difficult to see the former world Number one clearly favourite at the start of the tournament while she failed to win a tournament on clay this season and came here with her confidence at an all-time low.

This was also the case in 2004, when she was unsuccessful in defending her title.

Last year however, when she won her second French Open title, she came to Roland Garros unbeaten on clay with three tournament wins in her pocket.

If Henin-Hardenne wins the title, she'll be the first player of her generation to bag three French crowns. That's will give her a triple in this decade, making her the Roland Garros player of the young century.

"I love playing in Paris. I seem to play my best tennis here and I've also won quite often here. I feel good here, and I hope this feeling lasts," Henin-Hardenne said Henin-Hardenne.

But the Belgian was impressed by Kuznetsova's spirit on Thursday and knows she will have to be at her best:

"I'm going to have to be at the top of my game if I am going to win. We always have close games, particularly on clay. She has a very good forehand, and in the semis, she showed once again that she really is a fighter. I'm sure that she will be looking to get her own back after losing to me here last year."

Meanwhile, Kuznetsova was never threatened and now she gets to avenge her choke to Henin-Hardenne last year and her gag to Anastasia Myskina two years ago. She has come a long way from the fragile woman who couldn't buy a win late last summer.

"It's amazing, no? Sometimes it comes back to you, not only going other way, because I been here two years, fourth round every time, losing match points. Justine, Anastasia [Myskina], every time. Now it's means a lot to me to be in the final here because I didn't put my hands down. I just have to play, forget all the matches from the past. This is the only chance I have. ...I just want to give a fight. Of course I would be unbelievable happy if I will take revenge."