So much has been made of Jennifer Capriati's remarkable renaissance that you could be forgiven for believing she had already won her first ever French Open title.

But Kim Clijsters, her opponent in Saturday's final who only turned 18 on Friday, will be no pushover.

"I don't think anyone expected me to play this well, especially on clay," said Clijsters, the 12th seed at Roland Garros. "I think a lot of people thought clay wasn't my best surface."

Indeed, in the three clay-court tournaments Clijsters had played this season prior to Roland Garros, she had twice lost to lower ranked players in the first round.

That form has gone out of the window, although her run to the final has been helped by the way the bottom half of the draw has opened up.

Looking for clues to how the final will go, there is little form to go on in terms of past history - the two have played just once in the past.

"I played her once before a few years back - it was indoors," said Capriati. "Since then, I haven't played her, but she's improved a lot.

"I've watched her a few times, she moves well and she's a feisty competitor, aggressive, more of a power player.

"I will look at Kim as being a very tough opponent. I'm going to have to be playing my best tennis."

Boyfriend

The Belgian will be cheered on by boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, the sixth-ranked player on the men's circuit. He has stayed on to lend his moral support, rather than prepare for the grass court season which begins next week.

Clijsters and Hewitt bear remarkable similarities to each other: from the mousy mane of hair they both share, to their tenacious never-say-die attitude on the court.

And that determination will surely serve Clijsters well against the power of Capriati.

The Belgian says that she and Hewitt do not practice together as he would simply overpower her.

But, with this final in mind, perhaps Clijsters would be well served by her boyfriend if he slammed a few shots at her on the practice courts.