Halep to stay ‘chilled’ as she bids to break duck

SIMONA Halep (right) reached her third French Open final, and held on to the world No 1 spot, with a straight-sets victory over Garbine Muguruza.

American Sloane Stephens, the 10th seed, now stands between Halep and a first grand slam title.

It will be the 26-year-old Romanian’s fourth appearance in a major final, having also lost to Caroline Wozniacki in Australia in January.

Halep feels better equipped to finally break her duck in Paris. She said: “I have more experience now.

“I feel calm. I feel I have to enjoy it, the victory, because it was a great match.

“Then I have time until I play the final. So I will stay chilled. I will relax. We will see what is going to happen tomorrow but for sure I will fight for every ball.”

Muguruza had thrashed Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals but Halep was a different proposition entirely, and it seemed she knew it.

A nervous start from the Spaniard was immediately pounced upon by Halep for a break in the opening game.

Half an hour later, 1-0 had become 6-1 and the challenge of Muguruza, who would have taken over at the top of the rankings with a victory, appeared to be fading fast.

She improved in the second set, breaking early on only to be pegged back at 4-4 before Halep held a marathon ninth game and broke for a 6-1 6-4 win.

“I started in the first set not matching her level,” said Muguruza, the reigning Wimbledon champion.

“She was playing incredible right away, and I think I should have done something a little bit better to not let it go so fast.”

Stephens beat her fellow American and great friend Madison Keys 6-4 6-4 in a repeat of last year’s US Open final.

That match was also won, comprehensively, by Stephens for her first grand slam crown.

This was a less clear-cut victory but an early break of serve in each set put Stephens in control.

Keys slipped two breaks down in the second but although she pulled one back, Stephens served out for the match.

“It’s always hard to play someone from your country, and such a good friend, so I’m pleased to get through that,” said Stephens.

“It will be another great opportunity tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Juan Martin del Potro was facing the most daunting task in tennis today – taking on Rafael Nadal in a French Open semi-final.

Nadal reached the last four at Roland Garros for the 11th time after finally overpowering tricky Argentine Diego Schwartzman in four sets.

The Spaniard has won all 10 of his previous semi-finals in Paris, and gone on to lift the trophy each time.

Del Potro recorded a four-set win over Marin Cilic, which saw him reach the last four in Paris for the first time since 2009.