England succeeded in containing Belgium, but does such a conservative strategy maximise the talent at Southgate's disposal? Safarova made the semifinals at Wimbledon, helped the Czech Republic win the Fed Cup in November and this March achieved a career-high of No. She will face Lucie Safarova in Saturday's final, as the Czech beat Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 7-5, 7-5 in the other semifinal. "It is a dream come true. She's enjoying the moment and trying to figure out from there how to keep trying to get better. She offered a quick wave, then collected her things and left. En route to the final, Safarova knocked off two former French Open champions. She reportedly fell ill during the Australian Open, where she endured coughing fits. It was the second consecutive year that Ivanovic fell at the hands of Safarova at the French Open, and the Serbian is now 3-6 all time in their career series. During those breaks, she pressed ice towels against her forehead and neck and guzzled water. She's gunning for her 20th, which would put her within two Slams of Steffi Graf's 22, the most in the Open era. I hope that on Saturday, I hope ...". Williams has been suffering through illness and an elbow injury. In the previous three years combined, she lost the opening set on only four occasions. It's crucial that she avoids the Sara Errani treatment, with Williams using the second serve as batting practice. "It's a dream come true, I cannot believe it," said Safarova, who beat two top-10 players for the first time at the same Grand Slam. Down 5-2, Safarova mounted her comeback. If that sounds like a fairy tale, that's because it probably is. As she matures and starts to grow, she realizes what she hasn't done and what she has done and she kind of puts it together in a nice package now where she's able to accept and take control. "The happiness is unreal.". She'll meet Lucie Safarova next. The Czech must land a high percentage of her first serves. Bacsinszky remained calm and steady and took the first set 6-4. Williams has a Grand Slam finals winning percentage of nearly 83 percent. "I really thought I was going to lose, and if I was going to lose, I was going to go for winners," Williams said. I cannot believe it.". She picked up a bad cold and has looked lethargic at times in most of her matches. I cannot believe it.". Playing in the women's doubles semifinals Friday, she won't have a day off. "I have been feeling unwell for a few days, and after this tough match against Timea, I needed to see the tournament doctor," Williams said. Safarova kept mounting the pressure and eventually won five straight games to take the first set 7-5. "I tried, I tried. Williams has fought a cold and had to beat back a hand-waving Azarenka, resurgent Stephens and inspired Bacsinszky for this chance to win a third French Open and 20th Slam. Ivanovic ousted Safarova on the way to collecting her first and only grand slam crown in Paris in 2008 but their meeting last year at Roland Garros proved to be more of a predictor for this year's outcome -- Safarova triumphed in straight sets in the third round. Williams won for the 24th time in 27 attempts in a grand slam semifinal. Saturday, one of these ladies will reach a monumental milestone at the, "It is a dream come true. Safarova, on the other hand, has a history of mental missteps on the big stage. But their joy was short-lived. "She's just maturing. In Madrid, she led a tiebreaker 5-2 in the second set before Svetlana Kuznetsova came back, forced the deciding set and won. Williams wins in straight sets. After holding her serve, Williams broke Bacsinszky again to take a 5-3 lead. Lucie Safarova shakes hands with Serena Williams after a match at the 2009 Rogers Cup. A tall, big-hitting left-hander from the Czech Republic making the finale wouldn't have surprised many but instead of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova it's the 13th seed. So happy for her and her team!!!!! Safarova has to use her big lefty serve out wide to keep Williams off balance. I don't know how it happened.". However, has she ever been asked to hoist a trophy while feeling so weak physically? However, Williams broke right back and did not drop another game as part of a 10-game streak to finish the match. And I won. She overturned set deficits in the second, third and fourth rounds, and on Thursday fended off illness -- plus an opponent playing the finest tennis of her career. "I am proud to be back in the final here at Roland Garros, in a city that means so much to me, and am determined to be 100% ready for the final against Lucie on Saturday," added the American, who owns an apartment in Paris and is coached by Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou. It was the fourth time this tournament Williams came back after dropping the first set. 11. Serena Williams moves in with her backhand during a semifinal match at he 2015 French Open. Safarova is the first Czech woman to make it to the French Open final since Hana Mandlikova in 1981. The Czech withstood the Russian's 34 winners and overcame her usual case of nerves. But nothing about this French Open has been straightforward. 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