The French Open womens final pits a veteran who is no stranger to centre court against a rookie when it comes to playing on the final weekend of a Grand Slam. Marco Belinelli Jersey . 2012 champion Maria Sharapova goes up against fourth-seeded Simona Halep in Saturdays final at Roland Garros. Watch the match live on TSN, TSN.ca and TSN GO at 9am et/6am pt. Sharapova, who has an impressive 18-1 record on clay this season, will be looking for her second French Open title in three years after losing to Serena Williams in last years final. Already with a career Grand Slam on her resume, the seventh-seeded Sharapova eliminated Canadas Eugenie Bouchard, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals en route to Saturdays final. It was the third straight match in which she lost the first set but rebounded for the victory. She struggled with her serve in the match, double-faulting nine times and getting broken four times. "I dont feel that I played my best tennis, but to be in the semifinals of a Grand Slam and winning a match where I felt my opponent played extremely well, exceptional tennis, and I didnt feel that I was playing my best, I fought, I scrambled, and I found a way to win," said Sharapova after the match. The last time Sharapova lost a three-set match on clay was at the 2010 French Open, when she was ousted by Justine Henin in the third round. Halep defeated 28th-seeded Andrea Petkovic,6-2, 7-6(4) in her first Grand Slam semifinal match on Thursday. The Romanian hasnt lost a set in the tournament so far, becoming the first player since Lindsay Davenport at the 1998 US Open to reach her first Grand Slam final in that fashion. The Romanian has lost all three meetings with Sharapova, including a 1-6 6-2 6-3 decision in the final of the Madrid Open last month. Halep, who was ranked 57th last year, will move up to third in the world rankings regardless of Saturdays result. Moses Malone Jersey . -- Brad Gushue of St. Cincy Powell Jersey . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A day after Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf took a slap shot to the head, the Ducks had already found the lighter side of a potentially disastrous playoff injury. "Luckily, hes married, has a couple of kids," Anaheim defenceman Ben Lovejoy said. "Hes not trying to impress anybody with his face." Coach Bruce Boudreau was more succinct: "I didnt want to look at him," he said. Nobody in either dressing room was surprised Thursday to learn Getzlaf plans to play against the Dallas Stars in Game 2 on Friday night despite that huge cut on his face. Getzlaf was hit by Tyler Seguins shot in the final minute of the Ducks 4-3 victory over Dallas on Wednesday night in the series opener, but the puck apparently broke no bones -- which means itll be almost impossible to keep Getzlaf off the ice. "Thats why he is who he is," Boudreau said. "Thats why hes won two gold medals and a Stanley Cup and hes not 30. He learned from the Scotty Niedermayers and the Chris Prongers that were here before him, too. Hes a battler and a gamer. It wont look too pretty, but hes going to be playing." Getzlaf was the NHLs second-leading scorer this season with 87 points, having a spectacular offensive season while doing more of the Ducks defensive dirty work than ever before. His two-way game was on display in the opener, and Anaheim followed his lead to hold off the Stars despite blowing most of a four-goal lead. The Ducks know theyve got to maintain their focus on that dirty work to take control of the series before heading to Dallas. Anaheim had a spectacular first half of Game 1 before slipping late in the second period. "Youd like to put your foot on their throat, but they showed they can score some goals when they have to," Anaheim defenceman Cam Fowler said. "Theyve got momentum going into Game 2." Five more things to examine when the Ducks return against Dallas: FILM WORK: Dallas coach Lindy Ruff held the longest film session of the season on Thursday, but mostly focused on what the Stars did well in the series opener. With capptain Jamie Benn leading a long list of Stars making their post-season debuts, Ruff wants to keep his teams morale high after an early setback. DeMar DeRozan Jersey. "Its my job to get them in the right place, and they werent in quite the right place yesterday," Ruff said. BELESKEYS WOES: Getzlaf isnt the only top-line Ducks forward nursing an injury. Matt Beleskey might not play in Game 2 after leaving the opener in the third period. Beleskey said he has been struggling for weeks with an undisclosed lower-body injury thats been "all over the place" in its severity. He plans to evaluate himself Friday morning before deciding whether to try. Beleskey is easier to replace in the Ducks lineup than Getzlaf, but the energetic forward would be missed. HEAVY LOAD: The Ducks used their speed and passing abilities to carve up the Stars depleted defence for numerous scoring chances, particularly early. With Brenden Dillon still sidelined by an undisclosed injury, the Stars leaned heavily on defencemen Trevor Daley (who played 26:14) and Alex Goligoski (a whopping 28:39) to keep the Ducks at bay. Goligoski, who didnt skate Thursday, was encouraged by the way Dallas finished. "I dont think (Anaheim) had too many shifts where they were buzzing down there (in the Dallas end)," he said. DUCKY DEBUT: Rookie goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots to win his NHL playoff debut, and Boudreau indicated the 6-foot-4 Dane is likely to start again in Game 2 over veteran Jonas Hiller. Andersen has impressed his teammates with his preternatural calm all season long. "Its almost like hes got no heartbeat," Corey Perry said. "He just goes out, finds the puck and stops it." MOMENTUM SHIFT?: Even though Anaheim has the chance to take its first two-game lead in a playoff series since 2009, both teams believe Dallas is starting Game 2 with no disadvantage. "I think were back on an even playing field, even though were up 1-0," Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano said. "The way they finished the game, it feels like were even." ' ' '
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