Serena mauls Errani, Sharapova awaits in final

Rollercoaster match

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a return to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women's singles semi-final match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, June 6, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

From 2-2 and with storm clouds gathering above, the Belarussian won the next four games, clinching the second set on a Sharapova double fault, one of 11 gifts her opponent served, before heavy rain sent the players scuttling for cover.

After a 30-minute break in play Sharapova secured the first break of serve in the decider to lead 2-1 but failed to capitalise as the following game turned into a "lucky dip" with Sharapova mixing two aces with four double faults.

The rollercoaster ride continued as Sharapova surged 5-2 ahead only for Azarenka to save four match points with some courageous shots that peppered Sharapova's baseline.

Two more double faults gifted Azarenka the game and when she held to love to make it 5-4 the tension was mounting.

As cool as you line, Sharapova then stepped up to the line, fired down two powerful first serves on her way to a 40-0 lead and finished off Azarenka with a skidding ace.

Despite the tenacity of the contest, the one-dimensional nature of the match was a poor advert for women's tennis, with the number two and three players in the world committing 61 errors between them.

Not that it bothered Sharapova who is through to her eighth major final.

"I think it doesn't just take big ball striking to get to a final of a Grand Slam. It takes a lot more than that," she said.

It will certainly take a lot more than that to halt Williams in her tracks on Saturday.