Top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday divested Iga Swiatek of her French Open crown and moved into her first final in Paris following a 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 victory.
Sabalenka exploded into the eagerly awaited semi-final on centre court at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.
Hitting bodly and confidently off both wings, the 27-year-old from Belarus took Swiatek's service twice to open up a 3-0 lead.
With a chance to establish a 4-0 advantage, she fluffed her own service game.
Hope constructed, Swiatek also wavered. She lost her service again to give Sabalenka a 4-1 lead.
Again Sabalenka failed to exploit her fortune and a run of games akin to the all-conquering Swiatek of old, took the 23-year-old Pole to 5-4.
End of dominance
From a position of authority, Sabalenka entered adversity but rediscovered her early set mojo to level at 5-5 and break her opponent to serve for the opener.
But still no joy.
Swiatek set up a break point with a fizzing forehand service return and though Sabalenka fought off that one, a weak forehand into the net gave Swiatek another opportunity to force a tiebreaker and she lapped up the chance with a crunching forehand service return.
For what it was worth.
Sabelenka romped through the shoot-out seven points to one to pocket the opener after 69 minutes.
Return to form
After breaking early in the second, Swiatek held firm to close it out 6-4 to take their seventh confrontation on clay into a decider after two hours.
Fifteen minutes later, Swiatek was a double break down and serving to avoid a 6-0 scoreline she habitually inflicts on opponents.
With two match points, Sabalenka unleashed a backhand cross court winner to end Swiatek's run of three consecutive titles in Paris and ensure there will be a new name on the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday.
"Honestly it feels incredible to be there in the final," Sabalenka told on-court interviewer Mats Wilander.
"I am thrilled with the performance. Iga is the toughest of opponents and especially on the clay.
"It was a streaky match and I am proud that I could get this win."
In Saturday's final, Sabalenka will play either the second seed Coco Gauff or the unseeded Frenchwoman Lois Boisson.
