Paris: The women's singles final on Saturday will offer a peek into the future of the game. Ana Ivanovic who is already assured of taking over the number one ranking will be the favourite to pick up her first Grand slam title.
But don't count the underdog, Russia's Dinara Safina out just yet.
Those who dismissed Ana Ivanovic, as a player who would go only so far and not further; are now eating humble pie.
There is more to Ivanovic than her attractive smile, she has the game. Her Serb counterpart Jelena Jankovic felt the full impact of it in the semis in 2007.
Ivanovic lost the final to a red hot Henin and is counting on that experience to hold her in good stead.
"Being No.1 is a dream come true for me," says Ivanovic.
But with Safina she faces a tricky opponent for whom rankings and reputation have meant little in the tournament.
Starting off by upsetting top seed Maria Sharapova, Safina has not looked back. Riding on her great form and confidence, the 22-year-old has a simple formula for the finals.
"Like there is only the ball, and I have to do the things that I know to do, and try to avoid thinking as much as I can about that this is the final. If it's like the first round. Like it's still the same court and still the same ball. It's just how I take it in my mind," says Safina.
The last and only time the two played in a Grand Slam was when the match went into the third set.
But that was two-years-ago and a lot has changed since then. One dares to play the spoilsport, while the other wants another win to complete a dream run that will see her being crowned the world number one on Monday.
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