It wasn't easy and at times it wasn't pretty, but Maria Sharapova turned up the heat over three sets against up-and-coming Canadian Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday to reach her third consecutive French Open final.
For a time, the woman being labelled the "next Sharapova" looked on course for victory over the current model, until the Russian's aggression and experience prevailed 4-6 7-5 6-2.
It was Sharapova's third consecutive victory from a set down - further proof that when the chips are down there are few players who can equal her for fighting spirit.
"Winning a match where I felt my opponent played extremely well, exceptional tennis and I didn't feel that I was playing my best, I fought, I scrambled, and I found a way to win. I'm happy and proud about that," the 2012 champion told reporters.
"In the third I thought I was the aggressive one. I stepped up and I was doing things that I had wanted to do, which was I feel maybe I should have done earlier."
Looking close to mirror images on court, each blonde, each dressed in shades of pink with orange trim and each working the angles with flashing groundstrokes, it was Bouchard who called the tune in the first set.
However, by her own admission, she backed off in the second and third sets and despite Sharapova's service games being peppered with double faults, it was the more experienced player who began to stamp her authority, the shrieks becoming a roar of delight as she snuffed out the 20-year-old.
Sharapova will face Romanian fourth seed Simona Halep in the final, hoping to go one better than her defeat by Serena Williams last year.
A disconsolate Bouchard, seeded 18, knew she had been within touching distance of reaching her first grand slam final off the back of her last four run in Australia.
"I thought I was really close to it at the end of the second set, but I made too many mistakes on important points and important moments," Bouchard, known as Genie, told reporters.
Sharapova, who has battled shoulder injuries during her career, has now won the last 19 three-set matches she has played on clay since losing to Justine Henin in the third round at Roland Garros in 2010.
"In these last matches I have lost the first set, but I have lost them in different ways," she said.
"You know, at the end of the day, it's not how you finish a first set. It's how you finish the last set."
THIRD SET : SHARAPOVA 6 BOUCHARD 2
It took the fifth match point for Sharapova to seal the match against Bouchard as the Russian seals a berth in the final. Sharapova 6 Bouchard 2
Sharapova inching closer to a hard fought victory. Keeps her serve with Bouchard missing some fine chances that could have turned the score. Sharapova 5 Bouchard 2.
Sharapova is on cruise mode as she earns two break points. Bouchard is looking dejected with her game not looking good, but still manages to win the next four points to seal the game. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 2
Sharapova looks in command at this moment wrapping up her service easily. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 1
BREAK! At 40-15 Bouchard looked all set to seal her service game easily but Sharapova fought back hard to take it to deuce. Some tough battle ran for a while before Sharapova breaks to take crucial lead. Sharapova 3 Bouchard 1
Bouchard tries to break into Sharapova's serve. She successfully manages it for a certain extent making it 30-all but Sharapova wins two straight points to take the game. Sharapova 2 Bouchard 1
Bouchard wins her serve but not before passing through some tough moments. Sharapova is proving to be a real tough one at the moment. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 1
Sharapova begins the third set on a positive note to win her serve without much fuss. She is making Bouchard work hard. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 0
SECOND SET : SHARAPOVA 7 BOUCHARD 5
BREAK! That's some shots to watch from Sharapova as she earns two break and set points. An unforced error means she loses one but finally manages to seal it to level the set 1-1. Sharapova 7 Bouchard 5.
Sharapova is clearly not happy with the way things unfolded in the previous two games. She overcame those with some good hitting to hold on to her serve. Sharapova 6 Bouchard 5.
Stunning tennis from Bouchard. The Canadian stepping up the play when it mattered as she levels with Sharapova. She has some real good forehand and backhand shots in the game. Sharapova 5 Bouchard 5.
BREAK! Bouchard led 15-30 but Sharapova did not allow the game out of her hand as two powerful serves took it to deuce. But couple of double faults put Sharapova in trouble with the game lasted nearly 10 minutes before Bouchard proved to be a tough nut to crack managing to break Sharapova. Sharapova 5 Bouchard 4.
Another good service game for Bouchard as she keeps her serve. Sharapova will serve for the set. Sharapova 5 Bouchard 3
Easy service game for Sharapova as she doesn't drop a point to seal it to lead the second set. Sharapova 5 Bouchard 2
Comfortable game for Bouchard as she keeps her serve. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 2.
A long battle before Sharapova just manages to hold on to her serve. It was crucial for Sharapova to take the lead after several breaks. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 1.
BREAK! Leading 40-0, Bouchard was left clueless as Sharapova got some powerful shots coming her way. Winning the next three points she takes the game to deuce before she forces the break after some hard fought points, including a double fault to stay in the lead. Sharapova 3 Bouchard 1
BREAK! Some stunning tennis from Bouchard as she fights back to win the game from Sharapova. Too many unforced errors for the Russian lady. Sharapova 2 Bouchard 1.
BREAK! Sharapova is now playing like a true champion as she forces two breakpoints. Bouchard refuses to give in as she erases one from it before Sharapova gets a powerful backhand winner to earn an early break. Sharapova 2 Bouchard 0
More aggressive tennis from Sharapova at the start of the second set as she wraps the first game comfortably without dropping a point. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 0
FIRST SET : SHARAPOVA 4 BOUCHARD 6
Bouchard serving for her set finds tough to handle Sharapova as she refuses to bow out. The Russian wins a break point but Bouchard quicks wipes it out. She wins the next two points to seal the first game. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 6.
BREAK! Superb forehand shots from Bouchard as she earns triple breakpoints. Sharapova is lucky to save one but Bouchard takes the next point to break. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 5.
BREAK! Sharapova is putting up a strong fight. Two breakpoints as Bouchard concedes to hand over the break. Sharapova 4 Bouchard 4
Bouchard earns another breakpoint but Sharapova gets her serve at the right areas as she takes the next three points to hold on to her serve. Sharapova 3 Bouchard 4.
Sharapova is stepping up the gas. She is making Bouchard wobble as he earns two breakpoints. Bouchard pulls it back to take it to deuce. A long battle for two successive points which Bouchard wins. Sharapova 2 Bouchard 4
Sharapova managed to hold on to her serve but she is certainly not looking comfortable against Bouchard. Sharapova 2 Bouchard 3
Bouchard is going great guns and executing her shots without fear. That was an easy service game for the Canadian leading 40-0. Sharapova did fight back winning two points but that does not help. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 3
BREAK! Sharapova is made to run hard by Bouchard as the canadian girls is two break points up. She gets a fine forehand winner to take the break. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 2.
Bouchard makes a unsteady start but gets into the groove quickly charging at the baseline. Sharapova has no answers. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 1
Just a point dropped as Sharapova begins will winning her serve with ease. Sharapova 1 Bouchard 0
Both players in the middle as they warm up. The weather looks to be fine with the temperature around 19 degree celsius. The crowd slowly gathering.
PREVIEW
Clay has long been Maria Sharapova's least favoured surface, but the Russian, who takes on Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday, is on the brink of reaching her third successive French Open final, a feat she has never achieved in the other grand slams.
Sharapova, who won the title in Paris in 2012 and lost in the final last year, will need to douse the up-and-coming Bouchard, the 18th seed who has yet to beat a top-ranked player at Roland Garros.
Seventh seed Sharapova has been showing her usual fighting spirit, overcoming the loss of the first set in her last two matches.
The other semi-final on court Philippe Chatrier will feature German 28th seed against Romanian fourth see Simona Halep, who has been blazing her way through the draw.
Halep, who compensates her lack of power with her tactical nous, has lost just over four games per match and has yet to drop a set.
She won the 2008 junior title and will face an opponent she beat a year ago in the final of the Nuremberg claycourt tournament.
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