Bartoli believes Sharapova's 'big-match' experience would help in French Open final

Former French tennis ace Marion Bartoli is reportedly of the opinion that Russian ace Maria Sharapova's big-match experience could be a decisive factor when the former world number one faces Simona Halep in the French Open final.

The retired 2013 Wimbledon champion said that the experience of playing in a Grand Slam final made a massive difference for her, playing her second Grand Slam final, compared to her first one.

According to The Independent, Sharapova has bagged all the four Grand Slam tournaments and would be appearing in her third successive Roland Garros final, where as Halep has never gone beyond the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam event until now.

However, Halep has not dropped a set while on route to the French Open final, while Sharapova has lost the first set in each of her past three matches and Bartoli has said that if the Russian starts as badly as she has in the last three matches, the Romanian would win.

But, Bartoli added that because Sharapova struggled so much during those last three matches, she would find a way to win.

Bartoli said that she feels Sharapova can carry on her winning momentum and would have more time against Halep, who will not play like Eugenie Bouchard, stepping inside the court and trying to work out winners.

Halep has lost all three of her previous matches against Sharapova but has won seven titles in the last 12 months, the report added.