Stosur & Schiavone set for final

French Open - women's final
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: 5 June
Coverage: Live video streamed from 1400 BST on BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK only); commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra; also live on Eurosport; text commentary on BBC Sport website; re-run on Red Button from 1655 BST Details of BBC coverage

Stosur (left) is the first Australian woman to reach a Grand Slam final in 30 years and Schiavone (right) is the first Italian woman ever to do so.

By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Australia's Sam Stosur and Italian Francesca Schiavone will meet in the French Open final on Saturday with a first Grand Slam title on the line for both players.

The surprise line-up for the final, which begins at 1400 BST, is the result of a fortnight of shocks in the women's draw at Roland Garros.

Stosur, 26, certainly looks to have the pedigree after improving on last year's run to the semi-finals by amassing the best clay-court record (20-2) of the year and beating Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic on her way to the final.

But the 29-year-old Schiavone has broken new ground as the first Italian woman to reach a Grand Slam final and claimed the scalps of third seed Caroline Wozniacki and fifth seed Elena Dementieva along the way.

It's pretty crazy as it is, so I couldn't imagine what it would be like being in Australia right now Sam Stosur

"I think it's going to be great for both of us no matter who wins," said Stosur. "I want to enjoy it as much as I can. Hopefully we can have a good match and just make the most of it. It's going to be a day we're both going to remember."

The last Australian woman to reach a Grand Slam final was Wendy Turnbull at the 1980 Australian Open and Stosur is glad to be a long way from the increased level of media interest at home.

"It's pretty crazy as it is, so I couldn't imagine what it would be like being in Australia right now," she said. "Maybe that is a good thing. You don't see the papers and you don't walk around the streets and have people recognise you all the time and stuff like that.

"Obviously I still know what's going on, but you're not right there in amongst it."

With her current form and a 4-1 lead in meetings with Schiavone, the seventh seed must also cope with the unusual pressure of being the favourite in her debut Grand Slam final.

For sure she has a better ranking, so it's her turn to go and take this trophy, but tennis is a sport - so in the sport, you never know what's going on Francesca Schiavone

"I know it's a final and everything else, and I've had some great matches up to this point, but none of those win me the match tomorrow," she said.

"I've got to go out there and try and play it like any other match, and go out there and play my game and try and block all those other things out. It's been really fantastic up until this time, so hopefully I can make it a little bit better."

The Brisbane native will be joined in Paris by her parents and two brothers for Sunday's final and she also revealed that former US Open champion Pat Rafter has been passing on his support.

"He's been sending a few text messages through," said Stosur. "It's nice to know that someone like him is behind me and willing me on."

Schiavone had not been past the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam until she arrived in Paris this year but she rejected the suggestion that she has nothing to lose.

"When you want something you always have something to lose," said the Italian. "For sure she has a better ranking, so it's her turn to go and take this trophy, but tennis is a sport - so in the sport, you never know what's going on."

606: DEBATE Your thoughts ahead of the French Open women's final between Sam Stosur and Francesca Schiavone

Stosur's game on clay has improved dramatically in the last year or so and, having lost to the Australian in the first round at Roland Garros last year, Schiavone is well aware of the task she faces.

"We know each other very well," said Schiavone. "I think she deserves to be here, she's played so good in the last two years. I know that she's worked a lot.

"I think she knows my play and for sure the best one will win, the player that can play more relaxed than the other, because we can both play well. Different, but good play.

"She's very strong, great power. She's improved mentally and physically a lot. I think it will be very tough and a very close match, and there will be a lot of tactics on court."

And the Milanese player, who turned professional in 1998, will be getting some help in order to relax ahead of the biggest match of her life.

"For sure I will be nervous with tension," she said. "I think it's one of the best feelings that I can personally have but it's good my mental trainer is coming, so maybe he can help me a little bit. It's a good chance. I want to just enjoy my moment."

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