Tennis: Sam Stosur set to cap comeback

SAMANTHA STOSUR admits she could never have imagined she would reach a grand slam final when she was battling the illness that might have ended her career.

• Samantha Stosur has reached her first French Open final

Stosur's remarkable run at the French Open got even better yesterday when she dumped out yet another former world No.1, demolishing Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2 in an hour on Philippe Chatrier Court.

The 26-year-old Australian had already inflicted Justine Henin's first defeat at Roland Garros for six years and stunned top seed Serena Williams en route to the semi-finals.

The seventh seed's stunning success in Paris is a world away from three years ago, when she was struck down for ten months by Lyme disease.

She said: "When I was out, I never let myself doubt the fact that I would return.

"Obviously, I had no idea what was going to happen." She added: "I'd never wish to go through any of that ever again. But, in hindsight, who knows what it actually did for me?

"Since then, I've had the best time of my career, best results, and I'm playing the best."

Stosur is brimming with confidence for tomorrow's final against Francesca Schiavone.

The final will be the first ever to include a woman from Italy after Elena Dementieva's shock retirement in her semi against Francesca Schiavone.

"I start to feel that it is really big history," said Schiavone.

"We are happy I think in Italy, also. They are very happy, and it's a time to enjoy for us, for everybody."

Today is men's semi-final day at Roland Garros and sees Robin Soderling take on Tomas Berdych before Jurgen Melzer faces title favourite Rafael Nadal.