Top-ranked Dinara Safina beats Dominika Cibulkova to reach French Open final

Safina advances to final of French Open

PARIS — Top-ranked Dinara Safina has advanced to the French Open final for the second year in a row.

Safina beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals Thursday and needs one more win for her first Grand Slam title.

Safina won despite seven double-faults and 24 unforced errors.

The Russian’s opponent Saturday will be the winner of the second semifinal between Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Samantha Stosur of Australia.

Safina improved to 20-1 since she became No. 1 for the first time on April 20.

Last year, Safina was runner-up to Ana Ivanovic at Roland Garros.