Serena Williams will face Lucie Safarova in the finals of the French Open after both women won their semifinal matches on Thursday. Safarova continued her stellar tournament with a 7-57-5 victory over Ana Ivanovic. Meanwhile, Williams will attempt to win her 20th major title after coming from behind to defeat Timea Bacsinszky 4-6 6-3 6-0.

In the first semifinal, Safarova overcame a shaky start and a 2-5 deficit in the first set to rally to victory against the former French Open champion. Early in the match, after Ivanovic jumped out to a fast start, Safarova settled in and chipped away at the Serb, who began to struggle. As the first set wound to a conclusion and the pressure built, Ivanovic had difficulties with her ball toss in service games, which led to some untimely double faults. She would drop a set that she firmly had in hand.

A nervous-looking Ivanovic looked to turn play around in the second set but lost her serve in the third game. Safarova built momentum and held her serve as the set progressed until a shaky game, as she served for the match, allowed the Serb back into the set with a break of service. With nerves clearly a factor, Safarova would double-fault three times as she attempted to close the match out.

However, just as it appeared Ivanovic had taken steps to seize the momentum, the Czech broke back and would serve for the match once again. This time she closed it out, advancing to her first major final.

Safarova re-lived the closing moments of the match in the post-match press conference. “In the game at 5–4, I was really over-thinking and couldn't really concentrate to be there in the moment,” she said. “My serve wasn't working, and, yes, it was a little bit fighting with everything on the court at that moment. But when I lost the serve I shook it off and started to play aggressive again, and then I served it out.”

In the second semifinal match, Serena Williams dug herself an even bigger hole than in earlier matches when she was forced to rally for wins. This time, she overcame a set deficit, a break of service, and for good measure, illness before she would fight back for the victory.

Williams was visibly unwell as her opponent played a tremendous match to build the big lead. Not affected by the American’s powerful strokes, Bacsinszky turned her opponent’s pace into aggressive, dictating shots of her own, placing the 19-time major champion on defense.

Meanwhile, Williams used ice towels during changeovers and was clearly struggling with an illness early. After taking the first set, Bacsinszky looked in control and on her way to the upset. However, with the finish line just a few games away, a bevy of unforced errors gave away her advantage as she failed to hold serve.

Williams appeared to catch a spark off the break, and the flood gates opened on the 25-year-old Swiss. The American caught the wave of momentum and carried it to take the second set.

Bacsinszky attempted to fight off Williams but with the pressure mounting, the errors came, and the 33-year-old took full advantage while keeping the pressure on. She would run away with the third set and once again rallied to advance.

Williams skipped her post-match press conference, but Bacsinszky reflected on the match afterwards, “She's the only one who knows how she was feeling,” she said. “I have no idea how fit she was or not. I knew on court it would be a difficult match. I never forgot that. So I always tried to push myself as far as I could to try to win the match, and she was better today. She pulled out a great match because I think I was playing quite well.”

Williams has a couple of days to recuperate before facing Safarova in the title match. She has defeated the Czech in all eight career meetings between them.