Maria Sharapova has said that she is proud of herself for the manner in which she had to book her place in the French Open final.

The Russian came from a set down to beat Eugenie Bouchard 4-6 7-5 6-2 today and move one step away from a second title at Roland Garros in three years.

It was the third successive match in which Sharapova had to recover from a set deficit in order to claim victory, and the world number eight is proud of her never-say-die attitude.

"I don't feel that I played my best tennis today," she told reporters. "I felt my opponent played extremely well, exceptional tennis, and I didn't feel that I was playing my best.

"I fought, I scrambled, and I found a way to win. I'm happy and proud about that."

Sharapova will face Simona Halep in Saturday's final after the Romanian beat Andrea Petkovic earlier today.