TENNIS: Maria Sharapova reached her first US Open final last night as she beat world number one and top seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-0 4-6 6-0.

The former Wimbledon champion took advantage of an error-strewn performance from Mauresmo to set up a final against second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium.

After racing through the first set of the match in only 24 minutes for the loss of just 10 points, Sharapova suddenly found herself in a dogfight as Mauresmo, varying her game well, hit back to take the second set thanks to one break.

But just as quickly, the Frenchwoman's form deserted her and Sharapova tore through the third set, conceding just seven points as she moved into the US Open final.

Henin-Hardenne also showed her class by winning the last 10 games against Jelena Jankovic last night to progress through to the final 4-6 6-4 6-0.

After struggling early on against the feisty Serbian, the French Open champion became the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to reach the final of all four majors in the same year.

Jankovic, the 19th seed, was in her first Grand Slam semi-final, but showed no sign of nerves as she broke her Belgian opponent in the first set and again in the second to lead 4-2.

Henin-Hardenne was struggling with her serve and looked to be on her way out when her opponent's frustration appeared to get the better of her as she closed in on what would have been a famous victory at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Jankovic peaked when she challenged an out call and won, but chair umpire Enric Molina called a let rather than award the point, forcing her to win another point to claim the game.

After opening a 40-love lead in the seventh game, Jankovic had an unnecessary extended discussion with Molina about an out call on her first serve.

Clearly distracted, she then double-faulted and went on to lose the game, letting Henin-Hardenne, the second seed, back into the set.

The 2003 champion pounced, overcoming 11 double-faults - one more than she had in the previous five rounds - and never looked back.

Henin-Hardenne broke Jankovic, who had dumped out seeds Nicola Vaidisova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva en route to the final, both literally and figuratively in the first game of the final set, which she closed out in 24 minutes.

US OPEN

(Flushing Meadows, New York)

Women's Singles Semi-finals

(3) Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat (1) Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-0 4-6 6-0.

(2) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) beat (19) Jelena Jankovic (Ser) 4-6 6-4 6-0.