Maria Sharapova hails fighting spirit

Maria Sharapova has said that she is proud of herself for the manner in which she had to book her place in the French Open final.

The Russian came from a set down to beat Eugenie Bouchard 4-6 7-5 6-2 today and move one step away from a second title at Roland Garros in three years.

It was the third successive match in which Sharapova had to recover from a set deficit in order to claim victory, and the world number eight is proud of her never-say-die attitude.

"I don't feel that I played my best tennis today," she told reporters. "I felt my opponent played extremely well, exceptional tennis, and I didn't feel that I was playing my best.

"I fought, I scrambled, and I found a way to win. I'm happy and proud about that."

Sharapova will face Simona Halep in Saturday's final after the Romanian beat Andrea Petkovic earlier today.