Live Commentary: Serena Williams vs. Lucie Safarova - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the French Open final between Serena Williams and Lucie Safarova.

There's been some doubt over the participation of Serena Williams, but I can confirm that she has made it out onto the Philippe Chatrier court for her showdown with Lucie Safarova. It remains to be seen how healthy she is though. She cancelled all of her media duties ahead of the final while she reportedly looked unwell during practice this morning.

Regardless of Serena's health situation, this was always going to be a tough match for the world number one. She may have won all eight of their previous meetings but Safarova is a player in form having won all of her six matches at this year's Roland Garros in straight sets, which has included victories over the likes of Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.

The conditions are nowhere near as hot as yesterday afternoon but it's still over 20C in Paris. That will come as a huge relief to Serena but I think we'll soon see her attempting to keep the points as short as possible. Anyway, enough of my rambling - we are ready to begin! It will be Serena to serve first.

Williams takes the opening point as Safarova hits long, but the Czech moves level with a backhand winner down the line. A big first serve and cross-court winner take Serena to two game points before she seals it with an ace. That was quite a statement.

Williams looks in an uncompromising mood as he drills a backhand winner down the line, but Safarova responds well to get to 30-15. Williams remains in the game with more heavy hitting but Safarova comes through with the hold and that shouldsettle any lingering nerves that she may have.

Williams looks well on the way to a second service hold at 30-15 but she does nothing with a smash and Safarova takes advantage with a forehand down the line. The American takes the next two points though to keep the final on serve.

BREAK! Safarova is facing problems at 0-30 but she responds with a forehand winner from inside the court. However, a second serve is given the treatment by Williams to bring up two break points. Wowzers - Serena picks a first serve and fires the return cross-court into the corner. Stunning hitting.

She may be struggling with illness but this is an excellent start from Williams. She commits two double faults when serving into the sun but he dominates the other four points. Safarova is holding her own but she doesn't look powerful enough to live with Williams in this match.

Well, when it comes to return games anyway. Safarova hits her way to 40-0 and is only a matter of inches away from a love hold. She keeps her composure to control the next point and hold confidently to 15.

The one-two behind her serve seems to be working well for Serena when she reaches 30-0 but back comes Safarova, who middles a return on the way to 30-30. What a response from Williams though, who finds a big first serve before registering an ace out wide. She looks fired up for this.

Even at 30-0 down, Williams is dangerous and two return winners later and she is back at 30-30. She follows that with another well-struck return that forces the error from Safarova to create a set point but it's terrifically saved by the Czech who drills a forehand winner past her opponent. The left-hander takes the next two points to hold serve but she needs to break in this next game to avoid falling a set behind.

SET! Serena is going through the motions on her serve and she records another ace on the way to three set points. Safarova saves the first by forcing Williams to net with a backhand on the stretch but she takes the second with a big serve out wide. There's been no signs of the illness that plagued her against Bacsinszky and that spells trouble for Safarova.

BREAK! Safarova needs a sharp start to this second set and she is halfway to an early lead at 30-0. However, Serena halves the deficit with another return winner before Safarova makes a backhand error to take the score to 30-30. The world number earns a break point but she misses out after netting a backhand. Safarova moves to game point with her first ace of the contest but Williams remains alive with an effortless swing on a first-serve return. Safarova saves a second break point but she is helpless on the third as Williams displays remarkable retrieving skills before crushing a backhand winner into the corner.

Two aces and a big first serve in a row take Williams to three game points, which is sealed with another booming first delivery down the middle. The last six points have been as good as it gets.

She might be being overpowered but Safarova is showing tremendous character to remain competitive in this match. Williams looks dangerous every time she is given time to unleash a shot off the ground but the Czech hangs tough to hold to 30 after the American nets from the baseline.

Safarova takes a bit of speed off a return and it works wonders as Serena swings through her shot too early. It's 15-15, which should become 30-30 when Safarova controls the fourth point of the game but she drills an attempted passing shot into the net. Williams seals the game with a gigantic backhand winner from the baseline and she is well on her way to a third Roland Garros crown.

BREAK! More brutal hitting from Williams takes her to 15-30 but Safarova responds with an outswinging serve to force the mistake from the American. It's not enough to discourage Williams though, who hits through the ball two more times on a return to leave Safarova with no answer. This is brutally good.

BREAK! Williams has dropped just three points behind her first serve. That's how good she has been today. She is still susceptible to a double fault though, with a third being conceded to hand Safarova a look at 15-15. How do you respond to that? With a 198kmph ace and a 23rd winner of the match. Williams has two game points but they are both saved by the Czech thanks to a return winner and Williams mistake. Safarova then creates her first break point of the match, which she takes thanks to a third double fault of the game from her opponent. Interesting.

Momentum shift? Safarova pulls off the shot of the final with a heavily-sliced backhand from the baseline that gets the better of her opponent before two game points are created when she outlasts Williams in a rally. That's followed by a big first serve that is fired out and the Czech is back to within one game.

BREAK! Williams has gone off the boil and gifts the opening point to Safarova with a wayward backhand before another error, this time off the forehand wing, gives Safarova 15-30. It's two break points to the left-hander when Williams blazes a backhand miles wide of the line and we are back level after yet another double fault. What is going on?!

After the opening two points are shared, Safarova unloads from the baseline to move ahead before the American struggles to handle a first serve to concede two game points. Williams responds with a huge return but she nets on the next attempt and out of nowhere, she is serving to remain in this second set.

Williams screams to the heavens after finally hitting her target with a first serve before she advances to 30-0 with a backhand winner. Safarova halves the deficit with a winner of her own but Williams level with first serve and an ace. She's back...maybe.

BREAK! Safarova starts with ace but Williams hits back with a baseline winner that catches the line. The world number one digs deep to force a mistake out of her opponent but the score moves to 30-30 after a forehand finds the net. However, Williams gets a break point after Safarova goes long and it's taken when she middles a backhand return. She will serve for her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam crown.

BREAK! What a start from Safarova, who sets up a baseline winner after an incredible return of serve. Serena responds with an ace and she should be 15-30 down, but her opponent misses a sitter of a forehand. She could rue that! Williams is two points away from the title, and it stays that way after Safarova unleashes a monster of a forehand down the line. It's 30-30. Will it be match point or break point? It's break point! Serena nets and gives the Czech a chance to break back, which she does with a stunning backhand down the line. Incredible stuff.

Safarova takes the opening point with more aggressive play and she moves a mini-break ahead after a double fault from Williams - her seventh of the match. It's 3-0 to Safarova after a backhand finds the net but Serena hangs tough in the next point to force the mistake from the left-hander. Safarova re-opens her three-point advantage when Williams sends a backhand return wide of the line but Williams reaches the chance of ends at 4-2 with a huge first serve.

SET! Williams looks on course to reduce the deficit to one point but Safarova runs down everything before Williams makes the error. Four set points are created when Serena hooks a forehand long of the baseline and we are going the distance after a return is sent into the net. What a comeback from Safarova! Williams had two points for a 5-1 lead earlier in the set.

BREAK! Williams looks on course for a solid start to the decider but despite reaching 30-0, she finds herself facing a break point, which is taken by Safarova when the American goes wide.

Seriously, what is happening in this match. Safarova eases to a love hold and Williams seems on the brink of capitulation.

I only said "on the brink". Back comes Williams with an emphatic hold to love and this match seems far from over.

BREAK! Safarova breezes into a 30-0 lead but Williams stays competitive when putting the Czech under enough pressure to miss a passing shot. The American gets to 30-30 with a crushing backhand winner down the line before she gets a look at a break point after a marvellous backhand return. That's taken when Safarova double faults, and we are back on serve. What a final.

Williams appears to be back in the driving seat now. Three game points are created in next to no time before she edges ahead with her 11th ace of a pulsating encounter.

BREAK! During the change of ends, Williams was given a warning for bad language. Correct call. It's fired her up big time, and she has a look at 15-30 with a brilliant forehand return. The game advances to deuce before Williams gets a break point after Safarova nets. Big moment here. Williams breaks when Safarova goes long. That's the second service game in succession where Safarova has been broken when holding a 30-0 lead...

Serena opens with a double fault but she responds with a piece of magic. She switches hand to remain in the rally with a forehand before grinding out the point. The next two points are shared for 30-30, before Safarova goes just wide with a return. She should have made that. Serena holds when her opponent nets a backhand and she is closing in on a third Roland Garros crown. We've said that before though...

MATCH! Safarova must hold here but she misses a forehand to immediately give the advantage to Williams. The Czech follows that with a missed backhand down the line and this is slipping away rather quickly. It's three match points to Williams after Safarova blazes a baseline effort long, but the first is saved with a sliced serve out wide. She can't save a second as Williams middles a return and that brings an end to a breathtaking contest.

What can you say about that? It had everything. From Williams at her imperious best to Safarova showing the resilience of a future Grand Slam winner. It's Serena's day though, as she collects her third Roland Garros title and 20th major crown. Not bad, huh?

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but we hope to see you again tomorrow for the men's final between Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka. That should be a corker. Goodbye for now.