Halep fights through. An important hold for her.

She turns and points for her towel straight away and wipes herself down. She can be forgiven for being a little tired out there. Her blue trainers have had to do plenty of running through the red dirt.

Now the crowd try to lift Halep is she steps up to serve three games behind in this opener. "Si-mon-a, Si-mon-a" they chant again.

The Romanian starts well but Stephens is silently prowling at the other end. At the first sign of opportunity she lasers a forehand on to the line.

30-30 again on the Halep serve.

Chanda Rubin
American former world number six on Radio 5 live

There were two or three forehands which Sloane Stephens just unloaded in that game. That power may be the key difference as this game goes on.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

The French crowd try to keep quiet during another exhausting point but they just can't help but gasp. Halep runs and runs but Stephens is on fire.

The Romanian stares back down the court at her opponent. "I'm world number one, not you," she must be thinking. For now there's not a lot Halep can do. Too good from Stephens.

Image source, Getty Images

Chanda Rubin
American former world number six on Radio 5 live

We know how well Simona Halep can move on this surface, but Sloane Stephens can match her. Halep has played few players who have the same elasticity as her, but that is coming to bear here.

Image source, Reuters

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

The sheer brutality to these early rallies are leaving the Chatrier fans 'oohing', 'aahing' and 'la la laaing'.

To the point of some fans urging others to keep quiet as they express their amazement at what they are seeing.

First blood to the American. Simona Halep nets. Stephens breaks.

We've got a final on our hands here Ladies and Gents.

Image source, Reuters

Halep swats a forehand cross-court with what looked to be an impossible angle but that's a rare quick point for the Romanian.

Stephens is sliding around the back of the court brilliantly and these rallies just keep going on and on and on. These two are going to have run a fair distance by the end if it stays like this.

Danger for Halep. A first break point of the match for Stephens.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Patrick Mouratoglou told us to expect a baseline battle - he was sure right. The clay behind both baselines look like several children have been running around on Skegness beach, while the court itself is still relatively untouched.

A reminder Sloane Stephens has never lost a Tour-level final. She has started this match like a dream.

A clench of the fist towards her box as she holds again. The backhand, normally Stephens' weaker shot, is causing problems.

Christopher Clarey
New York Times tennis reporter on Radio 5 live

Simona Halep is playing her own history, like many players of the past such as Ivan Lendl, Kim Clijsters and of course Andy Murray. But there are no guarantees in tennis.

Image source, AFP

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on 5 live in Paris

Simona Halep very relieved to hold serve there. We do sometimes wonder how these rallies will ever end!

Crikey. What a start to this match. Brutal stuff.

On and on the rally goes with the crowd's gasps getting louder and louder as Halep tries to find a way through. Eventually Stephens nets on the 25th shot.

Halep holds.

Halep is grunting loudly on every ball strike. She's under pressure early on. Deuce.

Image source, Reuters

This is an impressive start from Stephens. She is forcing her Romanian opponent, the world number one remember, to scamper right and left before thumping anything that drops short.

30-30 in Halep's first service game.

Image source, Reuters

An edgy start from Halep. Her groundstrokes are wayward in this opening game and Stephens holds comfortably.

The American smashes a backhand down the line to take the game. Confident start. No sign of nerves from her.

There it is again. "Si-mon-a, Si-mon-a". It's clear who the crowd are backing.

Sloane Stephens to serve first.

Play.

Image source, Getty Images

And this is what American Sloane Stephens has had to say:

"It's just mainly about competing. No-one is going to hand you the match," she said.

"It's a Grand Slam final. You have to go out there and get after it and make sure you play every point and try to execute your game plan as best as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

Here are the views of Simona Halep before this final:

"I've lost three times up until now. No-one died," she said.

"It's a big chance but you never know, so I will stay chilled.

"I will be I think more confident because I have a lot of experience,"

Image source, Getty Images

So Halep has won five of the seven matches between these two players, including two victories on clay.

She has won seven clay-court titles on the women's Tour, while Stephens has won just the one.