[agildeta]

The two best clay courters of 2009 meet in the finals of the French. As whacked as this tournament may have seemed to many of us, it really is the appropriate finale, with these two the last two standing.

Dinara looks to put the cherry on top of the #1 ranked sundae with a win in the final. Having an incredible clay season, she's only lost one match on the red stuff (also her only loss since becoming #1 in the world). And that one loss was to Miss Kunetsova.

Sveta. Who doesn't love her. You just never know what Sveta you're going to love. It's looking more and more like leaving Spain for Mother Russia, and changing coaches, is having a big upside. Has had a wonderful spring, is back ascending the rankings, and is in her 4th Slam final.

Career H2H - 8-5, Dinara. 8 of those matches have been on clay, and they are even at 4 all. They've played twice at the French, and have split those ('06 Sveta won in straights, '08 Dinara in straights). They've also split their two appearances on clay this season, with Svetlana in straights at Stuttgart, and Dinara in straights at Rome.

[agildeta]

I feel awful, but I feel like you cannot trust either one of them at the biggest possible moments. But since Sveta has been there once before, I have just enough more trust in her. I'm expecting a less than gorgeous match, with Svetlana winning in three.

[Phywhewashect]

Much like Federer, to me this seems to be Safina's time at Roland Garros. While I wouldn't be surprised to see a three set match, I'll say Dinara in straights.

[repldoinfo]

Just want to say Davai Dinara!

[ManituIKOL]

Much like Federer, to me this seems to be Safina's time at Roland Garros. While I wouldn't be surprised to see a three set match, I'll say Dinara in straights.

Cosign. Even though I hate the Federer part.

[slarceSelia]

Dinara

[hacyOrgachbic]

Go Dinara! My girl....you've come so far from your hulking slug days when you used to have temper on the courts if your opponents made you run around

I knew you could do it and I know my girl is gonna win tomorrow! Keep cool and play your game. Remember you are playing Kuznetchoka!

(Sorry guys! )

[abossakon]

It has all the potential to be a truly great final and I have every confidence that it's going to be...awkward and nervy.

My heart says Kuzzie in 3.
My head says Dinara in 3.
I can't predict a no-score draw, so I think I'll have to go with Sveta. Just 'cause.

[TypeTeasiaDer]

It has all the potential to be a truly great final and I have every confidence that it's going to be...awkward and nervy.

My heart says Kuzzie in 3.
My head says Dinara in 3.
I can't predict a no-score draw, so I think I'll have to go with Sveta. Just 'cause.

I can agree with that.

[Xewksghy]

I'm going with Sveta in 3. I believe if she wins her second slam she can get her career back on track. But I wouldn't be disappointed with Dina winning either, I just think it would be nicer seeing Sveta get out from the 1 slammer title.

[RicyReetred]

If Sveta wins, I will have correctly picked the wooden spoon winner, so go Sveta!

[goolen4you]

Sveta will play a good game and eventually take a set, but I think that her record in finals, the fatigue and her head will catch up with her... i mean, she almost blew it against Serena and then against Stosur... I don't think she'll get lucky again.

[retrahdggd]

Head: Dina in straights
Heart: Sveta in three

[abossakon]

I'm going with Sveta in 3. I believe if she wins her second slam she can get her career back on track. But I wouldn't be disappointed with Dina winning either, I just think it would be nicer seeing Sveta get out from the 1 slammer title.

Me too. She's too solid a player to just have one (and don't get me started on Elena). But I'd be curious to do a little research project on who are the best one-slammers in history. Tennis magazine did something like this a few years ago for slamless wonders and came up with something like Todd Martin and Helena Sukova. I forget their criteria (I do remember that to be considered, they had to have reached at least one slam final) but I agreed with it for the most part.

[RicyReetred]

Sveta will play a good game and eventually take a set, but I think that her record in finals, the fatigue and her head will catch up with her... i mean, she almost blew it against Serena and then against Stosur... I don't think she'll get lucky again.

I agree with you for the most part, but her last two wins had nothing to do with luck. She actually got her head together and pulled out the matches, so mentally she's actually getting her game together.

Also, it's not like Dinara has no pressure on her, and she also has shown that she can't play pressure-less tennis.

The match will either be great or a hotmess that may displace the infamous Sveta/Chaks US Open semi.

[slarceSelia]

The match will either be great or a hotmess that may displace the infamous Sveta/Chaks US Open semi.

I can't imagine how that one can ever be displaced. Unless maybe there is some horrendous drubbing, but even in that case at least one player would be playing well.

[gyjsdtuwr]

Dina in straights. I feel bad for Sveta who will have lost yet another GS final, but I really want Dinara to win this so her ranking and merits stop being questioned.

[Blelidupgerie]

I'm taking Dinara in 3. Once upon a time, I'd be cheering hard for Sveta but I lost too much hair pulling it out in frustration. It'd be nice to see her be more than a one-slam wonder and she's been looking much stronger on court than usual thanks to the points Moose mentions in the original post. But...I have a lot of respect for how hard Dinara has worked and would love to see a slamless #1 finally show the world she earned and deserves it.

[P1international]

I'm definitely rooting for Sveta, but...

Dinara Safina in straights.

[PyncGyncliacy]

I don't know. I want Dinara, but would be happy with both of them. And I know both want it very much, but I think Dinara might want it more. Besides, Sveta hasn't used her last few chances. I would pick Safina, but I know she has a sore throat, so I just won't pick.