Stosur's dream fired by Rafter and clay misery

Unheralded women to battle it out for their first Grand Slam title on Saturday

PARIS - Super-fit Samantha Stosur hopes to end a 30-year wait for an Australian women's Grand Slam champion on Saturday, fired by twin memories of compatriot Pat Rafter and her early European claycourt struggles.

The 26-year-old takes on fellow surprise finalist Francesca Schiavone, the first Italian woman to reach a Grand Slam final, in a French Open title showdown which nobody would have predicted at the start of the tournament.