Martinez marches into final

Conchita Martinez played flawless tennis

Conchita Martinez bt Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-1, 6-2

Conchita Martinez booked herself a place in the final of the French Open after stunning the crowd with a comprehensive victory over three-times winner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

The Spaniard took one hour and 19 minutes to despatch her compatriot from the competition, but conceded just three games.

Not since the Italian Open in 1995 has Martinez got the better of her opponent - the seven matches before today all being won by the former champion.

Playing some of the best tennis of her career, the 28-year-old has made it through to the final at Roland Garros for the first time.

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario was comprehensively beaten

After her win, she said: "It is like a surreal dream for me - it is one of the happiest moments of my life."

She will now meet Mary Pierce in the final on Saturday, who secured a three-set victory over number one seed Martina Hingis.

The eighth-seeded Sanchez-Vicario may have a better history at the tournament but she allowed Martinez to dictate the pace of their match.

On a breezy, mild afternoon, the match quickly settled into a series of long rallies, with both players camped behind the baseline trading looping groundstrokes.

Many points ended with Sanchez-Vicario finally attempting an aggressive shot and hitting it long or in the net.

And twice when she charged to the net, Martinez responded with a lob for a winner.

Jubilation

The longest rally came in the second set with Martinez leading 1-0, deuce.

The point went on so long that the center court crowd became restless.

Some fans laughed, and a few began to whistle. Finally, on the 36th stroke, Sanchez-Vicario hit a forehand inches long.

Sanchez-Vicario won consecutive games to reach 2-2 in the second set, but that was the extent of her comeback.

On match point, Martinez hit a forehand winner - the 23rd shot of the rally - and raised her arms in jubilation.

Her only major title came at Wimbledon in 1994 and last year her ranking had dropped to 22nd - but she has since revived her career and climbed back to fifth in the world.