PARIS — Done with a dominating performance in the French Open semifinals, Serena Williams climbed the stairs leading from the locker room to the players' lounge, looking to give her mother a hug.
Smiling widely all the while, Williams greeted visitors, posed for photos and signed autographs on her way.
It's been more than a decade since she was so happy — and played so well — this deep in the tournament at Roland Garros.
Coming as close to perfect as seems possible, Williams absolutely overwhelmed last year's runner-up, fifth-seeded Sara Errani of Italy, 6-0, 6-1 in a mere 46 minutes Thursday to reach the final for the first time since winning her lone French Open championship in 2002.
"It doesn't seem like that long ago," Williams said, "even though it was."
To collect her 16th Grand Slam title Saturday, Williams will need to beat defending champion Maria Sharapova, who put aside 11 double-faults and got past third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in a much more competitive semifinal.
The final features the top two women in the rankings and seedings, No. 1 Williams and No. 2 Sharapova. They are 1-2 among active players in French Open match wins, Williams with 45, Sharapova with 43. And they are two of three active women with more than two major championships; Sharapova completed a career Grand Slam in Paris last year with No. 4.
Plus, Williams has won a career-best 30 consecutive matches, the longest single-season streak on tour since 2000. Sharapova has won 13 consecutive matches in Paris.