Serena Williams a clear favourite in French Open final
Despite illness, the American looks on course for a 20th grand slam title against Czech underdog Lucie Safarova

Only the top seed’s fragile state of health, it seems, stands in the way of what would be a 20th grand slam title – just two shy of the Open-era record of 22 set by Steffi Graf.
A new trophy to add to her collection would also take her halfway to winning all four grand slam titles in the same year – a feat only previously achieved by four women in the history of the sport, the last being Graf in 1988.
I caught the flu after my third-round match and have been struggling ever since
Williams, 33, is the consummate finisher in grand slams.
In 23 major finals, she has lost just four times – twice to sister Venus and once to each of Maria Sharapova and Samantha Stosur.

Williams’ 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win over Swiss surprise Timea Bacsinszky in the semi-finals was at times painful to watch as she coughed and spluttered, and staggered about the court fighting her illness.