Henin-Hardenne, Pierce set for final

PARIS – Today’s French Open women’s final features two former champions who have overcome illness and injuries and fought their way back to top form.

Thirty-year-old Mary Pierce of France will attempt to use the energy of the Roland Garros crowd to combat the clay-court expertise of 10th-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium. Henin-Hardenne, 23, champion here two years ago, is on a three-tournament, 23-match winning streak on clay.

In three previous matches, Pierce, the 2000 French Open champion, failed to take a set from Henin-Hardenne. Their most recent meeting came last summer in the quarterfinals at the Athens Olympics. Henin-Hardenne won 6-4, 6-4.