Russian Derby

One hundred and twenty six women have been knocked out of the tournament and we're left with only two - and I think that they are the two that really deserve to be there. The final on Saturday is going to be an all-Russian derby - Dinara Safina against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

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I was obviously pulling for Sam Stosur in her match against Kuznetsova, and she did herself proud by taking Sveta to three sets, but I think it's probably appropriate to have the two girls that we do in the final. They have been the two who have been the strongest in the whole claycourt season - they made back to back finals in Stutthart and Rome, with Sveta triumphing the first time, Dinara six days later. So who will do it this time?

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Sveta clearly had the harder match - Stosur is ranked lower than Cibulkova, but she really took it to Sveta. Her serve and forehand were not quite as sharp as they had been in previous matches, which definitely hurt her, but she really dug into that match and refused to let go. Samantha Stosur has a hell of a lot to be proud of here - what a good year this has been for women's tennis in Australia, Slam-wise! First we had Jelena Dokic in the quarters of Australia, now Sam in the semis of Roland Garros... it is now clear that Jarmila Groth will make the final of Wimbledon and Casey Dellacqua will win the US Open. Keep the trend going, you know!

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Back to Russian girls, and you have to admire the nerve of Sveta. She was clearly in a great deal of pain with her ankle, especially having played three hours the day before against Serena - I bet another epic was really not what she was hoping for! But she eked it out in the end, despite Stosur staging several mini-comebacks. A really excellent match between two excellent women - and, in my opinion, a very deserving finalist.

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Dinara Safina had a slightly easier time of it against Dominika Cibulkova, but to call it easy would be a lie. Technically, Safina has a 2-0 record over Cibulkova, but Cibulkova did beat her in the final of the Hopman Cup this year, so she's clearly not invulnerable. And little Dominika got off to a flying start, breaking Safina and then holding for a 2-0 lead.

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And what did Dinara do?

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She picked herself up, dusted herself off and won five straight games. There were clearly some nerves at the beginning, but then that iron determination we've seen in her over the last year came into play. If anyone could will themselves to the title this year, it'll be Dinara.

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Both girls would be deserving winners of the French Open - but in my heart, I'm pulling for Dinara. Everyone's been talking about how she's not a proper #1 because she hasn't won a Slam. Make them eat their words, Dinara. It'll be Sveta's ankle against Dinara's nerve - and while either girl would be good, Dinara feels right to me. And she's also following the Ivanovic pattern - beaten finalist one year, winner the next. Hopefully if Dinara wins she won't then transform into a total headcase, but I don't see that happening, somehow... not while Zeljko Krajan is around!

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Today's Results

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French Open (Roland Garros)

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Women's Draw

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Dinara Safina def. Dominika Cibulkova, 6-3 6-3

Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Samantha Stosur, 6-4 6-7 (5-7 6-3