The 24-year-old Yugoslavia-born American, who had not reached a Grand Slam tournament final since her 1996 triumph at the Australian Open, faces Arantxa Sanchez Vicario for the French crown tomorrow.

Both players have been there before. Seles reigned over the red clay of Roland Garros in 1990, 1991, and 1992, Sanchez Vicario was champion in 1989 and 1994.

But if Seles can reproduce anything approaching the brutal and ruthless brand of tennis with which she destroyed world number one Martina Hingis in yesterday's semifinals Sanchez Vicario could find herself on the end of one of her worst defeats in twelve campaigns in the French capital.

Seles, who is playing in her first tournament since the death of her father and coach Karolj Seles last month, had never beaten Hingis in five meetings.

Butthere was never any doubt about who was in charge during yesterday's semis.

The former champion, who has worn a predominantly black dress throughout the tournament, outfought, outthought and outplayed the 17-year-old top-seed 6-3 6-2 in 69 minutes prompting a shell-shocked Hingis to declare: ``I guess she surprised everybody today.''

THE FINALISTS' FACTFILE

MONICA SELES (US)

Age: 24.
Seeded: Sixth
Career prize money: $10.4 million.
Titles: 9 Grand Slam, 41 overall.
Coach: Gavin Hopper, who also coaches Australian Mark Philippoussis
Grand Slam record: Winner 1990, 1991 and 1992 French Open, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1996 Australian Open, 1991 and 1992 US Open.
Path to final: beat Annabel Elwood (Australia) 6-0 6-2, Mario Maruska (Austria) 2-6 6-1 6-0, Barbara Schwartz (Austria) 6-1 7-5, Chanda Rubin (US) 6-1 6-4, Jana Novotna (Czech Republic 4-6 6-3 6-3, Martina Hingis (US) 6-3 6-2.
Record: Won three Grand Slams in both 1991 and 1992 but was never able to win Wimbledon.Number one ranked player for 178 weeks.
Playing style: Left-hander with devastating two-handed forehands and backhands. Plays mostly attacking tennis from the baseline, trying to hurry opponents and force them into unforced errors. Mentally toughened by personal difficulties, she has played her best tennis in years here.
Personal: Born in Novi Sad (Yugoslavia) on December 2, 1973. 1.79 metres tall. A teenage sensation who became the youngest winner of the French Open at 16. She became an American citizen in 1994. Was stabbed by a deranged Steffi Graf fan in Hamburg on April 30, 1993. Father Karolj, a former cartoonist and television director, died three weeks before the tournament. Collects stuffed animals. Wants to go to college and work with children.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO (Spain)

Age: 26.
Seeded: Four.
Career prize money: $12.5 million.
Titles: Three Grand Slam, 25 overall.
Coach: Brother Emilio, a former top 20 player.
Grand Slam record: Winner French Open 1989 and 1994,winner US Open 1994.
Path to final: Jana Kandarr (Germany) 6-2 7-5, Catalina Cristea (Romania) 6-2 6-3, Alexandra Fusai (France) 6-2 6-1, Serena Williams (US) 4-6 7-5 6-3, Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 6-2 6-7 6-0, Lindsay Davenport (US) 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
Record: The youngest winner at the French Open in 1989, until Seles broke record the following year. Was world number one for 12 weeks in 1994. Last reached a Grand Slam semifinal in Wimbledon 1997. Suffered leg and wrist injuries this season.
Playing style: Right-hander, she is a relentless fighter from behind the baseline. Never gives up. Usually more efficient on her opponents serve than on hers. Very difficult to beat on clay.
Personal: Born in Barcelona on December 18, 1971 and still lives there. The youngest member of a tennis dynasty. Brothers Emilio and Javier have been top 30 players. Her father is an engineer and her mother a retired teacher. Named her two dogs Roland and Garros.

Reuters