The Past Is Prologue for Women’s Finalists

The 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.

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-- Lisa Dillman