'Unwell' Williams to face Safarova in French Open final

Despite struggling with illness, Serena Williams defeated Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 and will now face Czech Lucie Safarova in the final of the French Open on Saturday.

The 33-year-old American has been unwell throughout the tournament and struggled as temperatures soared in Paris.

Williams said she didn't really expect to win that as she had never been this sick, the BBC reported. She also said that she got the flu after her third-round match and she had been really struggling ever since then, adding that hopefully that was the worst and she would get

better from there.

She insisted that the next thing she knew it was a set all and she really didn't feel like playing a third set adding that she just fought for every point.

The American number one is trying to win her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam singles title.

Earlier, 13th seed Safarova became the first Czech women to reach the finals at Roland Garros, beating Serbia's Ava Ivanovic 7-5, 7-5 in their semi-final clash.