Paris - Two-time champion and world number one Serena Williams battled illness and fierce heat to reach a third French Open final on Thursday, defeating Swiss outsider Timea Bacsinszky 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Williams, 33, will face Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova in Saturday's final where victory will put her just two Grand Slam titles behind Steffi Graf's Open record of 22.