Paris: Simona Halep became the first Romanian woman to reach a Grand Slam final in 34 years on Thursday when she beat Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) to set-up a French Open title clash against Maria Sharapova.

The 22-year-old fourth seed swept to victory in 90 minutes.

The last Romanian in a final at a major was Halep’s manager Virginia Ruzici, who was champion at Roland Garros in 1978 and then finished runner-up two years later to Chris Evert.

The former world junior number one had never previously got beyond the second round in Paris, but the woman voted the most improved player of 2013 has raced through the tournament without losing a set.

Despite her higher ranking, Halep will start as the outsider against seventh seed Sharapova in Saturday’s final.

The Russian is in her third Roland Garros championship match having won the title in 2012 and holds a 3-0 winning record over Halep although the Romanian pushed her to three sets in the Madrid claycourt final earlier this year.

“It’s very emotional to win and reach my first Grand Slam final,” said Halep.

“Andrea’s a great player but I think I was a little bit stronger. I tried my best and did everything I could to win the match.”

She knows she will have to step up her performance against four-time major winner Sharapova, who made the final for the third year in succession with a three-set win over Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard.

“In Madrid I took the first set. I played my style and was aggressive. But then I played too far behind the baseline so I will need to open up the court.”

On Thursday, she was 4-1 ahead in just 14 minutes courtesy of two breaks of the German 28th seed who was also playing in her first major semi-final.

Halep fired three aces in the opener and allowed the 26-year-old German just seven points off her serve.

Petkovic briefly rallied with a break to lead 3-1 in the second set but then handed the advantage straight back to the speedy Halep.

The German was finally undone in the tiebreak when Halep wrapped up the semi-final with a sweeping, running forehand.

Petkovic, who spent two and a half hours more on court than Halep getting to this stage, can still reflect on a successful tournament.

The former world number nine was ranked at 177 in March last year after battling a series of knee and back injuries and failed to get out of qualifying for the 2013 Roland Garros event.

Sharapova overcomes Bouchard

Earlier, 27-year-old, seventh seed Sharapova once again did it the hard way, battling back from a set down to edge the 20-year-old Bouchard 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a match full of beefy baseline shot-making.

It was the 19th time in a row that the never-say-die Sharapova had won a three-set match on clay, dating back to a loss against Justine Henin at Roland Garros in 2010.

For the fast-rising Bouchard, it represents the second time she has reached a Grand Slam semi-final, after this year’s Australian Open, and the second time she has failed to go a step further, having lost to eventual champion Li Na in Melbourne.

“She played an unbelievable match. Her level was extremely high today and I am just fortunate to be the winner,” Sharapova said.

“I would prefer to win in two sets, but she started so well. It was tough losing the first set, but that’s not when the match is over.”

“I fought and I scrambled and I found a way to win.”

Both players had been guilty of slow starts earlier in the tournament, but the quality from both was high from the start as the sunshine returned to light up the centre court.

Bouchard broke first to lead 3-1, but amid some hefty baseline shot-making, the Russian was soon back on level terms at 4-4.

Bouchard, the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2013, then produced an inspired game to stun her girlhood idol Sharapova, breaking serve and then holding to take the first set 6-4 in 44 minutes.

But Sharapova is seldom as dangerous as when she is behind, especially on clay, as shown in her two previous matches when she dropped the opening set to Samantha Stosur and then Garbine Muguruza.

Seeking a fifth Grand Slam title, having completed a career Grand Slam sweep in Paris two years ago, Sharapova jumped out into a 4-1 and then 5-2 lead in the second set.

But as so often in the past, Sharapova’s wobbly serve let her down and she let slip four set points, twice due to double faults, as Bouchard battled back to level at 5-5.

Sharapova was in big trouble, but once again she found a way of digging her way out of it, holding serve and then levelling the score by bagging her sixth set point in the following game.

Once again, Sharapova’s drive and determination allowed her to dominate the deciding set with Bouchard struggling to stay with the Russian superstar now in overdrive.

Sharapova grabbed a vital break in the third game to lead 4-1 and raced away with the tie as Bouchard wilted, although the Russian still needed five match points to get the job done.

Bouchard said that she had had her chances of reaching her first Grand Slam final but had been unable to take them.

It was a diffcult match for me today and I was really close to winning it, but it was not enough,” she said.

“I didn’t play at the right level at the important moments. It was so close and I feel I am very close to winning a major tournament and being the player I want to be.”