Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Indeed you can Matthew...

A partisan atmosphere here in Paris. Sloane Stephens walks out into Chatrier first, earphones partially blocking out a warm welcome. Wonder if she's listening 'Living In America', Apollo Creed style?

The noise ramps up when Simona Halep strolls out seconds behind her, tens of Romanian flags flapping in the slight breeze, followed by raucous chants of her name.

I think I can hear chants of "Si-mon-a" from the stands as umpire James Keothavong completes the coin toss.

Jonathan is right. There's a good atmosphere in Paris.

Who are you backing? Let me know at #bbctennis.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Quite an atmosphere building as the fans start reaching into their pockets for those precious tickets and entering Court Philippe Chatrier.

Romanian red, yellow and blue considerably outnumbers American stars and stripes outside, hinting Halep will be hearing most of the support.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dad Vasile, mum Corina and daughter Raluca say they packed their bags and headed to Paris straight after Halep beat Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals.

"We are here so she has to win - we're going to be her lucky charms," says Raluca.

"She'll win in two sets," adds Vasile, before his wife stresses: "We love her even if she loses."

But the family remain confident, Raluca concluding: "We are sure she will win and then win plenty more Grand Slams. This will be just the start."

Philip Studd
BBC tennis reporter at Roland Garros on 5 live

The game styles of Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens are quite similar, and maybe that's where Halep struggled in the final last year against Jeļena Ostapenko. You got the sense she was playing not to lose.

Today she will definitely look to be more aggressive because Sloane Stephens can match her from the back of the court.

Here come the players. First Sloane Stephens, then Simona Halep.

Both look completely focused.

Halep gets the bigger of the cheers. Will she have the crowd on her side?

Image source, Getty Images

And we couldn't let Patrick Mouratoglou disappear without answering the question which we all want to know...

Will Serena Williams, who pulled out of her last-16 match against Maria Sharapova with a pectoral injury, be fit for Wimbledon?

"She probably will be," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It was a great idea to not play that match against Maria because she couldn't serve and it would have been difficult to win without serving.

"Also because it would take an incredible risk to tear the muscle that was very close to being torn.

"So within two weeks she should recover and will be able to hit again. Then she 15 days to do a lot of fitness and improve more her speed on court."

Image source, Getty Images

Sloane Stephens facing little pressure could help her spring a surprise against Simona Halep at Roland Garros, says Patrick Mouratoglou.

"Her victory at the US Open was a big surprising, completely unexpected," the Frenchman, who coaches Serena Williams, told BBC Radio 5 live.

Since then she has not played well but it looks like she is a Grand Slam player - the button turns on when a Slam starts.

"She has a lot of qualities, actually the same type as Halep: fantastic movement, a counter puncher, tactically playing the right ball.

"This match is about handling the pressure - not so much for Sloane because she has won already a Slam plus she has no pressure because no-one expected her to be here."

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Mouratoglou, AKA Serena Williams' coach, has been talking to BBC Radio 5 live about today's final....

"On the paper Halep is the favourite and since the start of this tournament she has been playing amazing, very solid, very powerful and focused.

"On the opposite side of the court is someone surprising - nobody would have expected her to be here because she is not a clay-court specialist and has never been very good on clay.

"It is is going to be an interesting match between two players with the same style. We can expect a big battle from the baseline."

BBC Radio 5 live

The players will be making their way from the locker room any minute now.

You can listen to this match live on BBC Radio 5 live or by clicking play at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Sloane Stephens has the one thing Halep wants most, however. A Grand Slam title.

Last year the American won maiden her Slam at the US Open, winning in her first appearance in the final of one of the sport's four biggest events.

In fact, Stephens has a remarkable record in finals, winning all six Tour-level finals in her career and dropping only one set in the process.

Will she add a second Slam to her record today?

Image source, Getty Images

26-year-old Simona Halep has been a constant fixture at the top of the women's game for years.

She is world number one, has reached three Grand Slam finals - including two at Roland Garros - but she has lost them all.

The Romanian led Jelena Ostapenko by a set and 3-0 in last year's final but could not close out victory.

Only three women have gone on to win a Slam in their career after losing their first three finals.

Image source, Getty Images

In the fascinatingly open women's game, this year's tournament has thrown up another intriguing final.

It sees the world number one Simona Halep, the epitome of consistency who has fallen agonisingly short in her Grand Slam finals, up against reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens, the lover of the big occasion.

Both have been in fine form so far in Paris.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Hello there. After two weeks of oooooing, aaaahhhing, skidding and sliding, it's finals time in Paris.

Today Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens will step out on the red dirt of Roland Garros for the final time this year.

In a few hours one of them will be French Open champion for the first time...

One major trophy...

Image source, Getty Images

Two players...

Image source, Getty Images