Soderling outlasts Berdych to reach French final

Sweden's Robin Soderling wore down Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 on Friday to reach the final of the French Open for the second year in a row.

In sweltering conditions, the fifth seed battled back from two sets to one down to clinch victory after three hours and 27 minutes, setting up a final against either Spaniard Rafael Nadal or Jurgen Melzer of Austria.

Soderling began strongly but 15th seed Berdych, in his first grand slam semi-final, lifted his game to take the next two sets as Soderling struggled to control his power game.

The Swede hit back to level the match and after trading early breaks in the decider, Soderling broke twice more to reach his second grand slam final.

Serena and Venus take fourth consecutive grand slam

Meanwhile, Sisters Serena and Venus completed a 'Williams slam' of four consecutive grand slam doubles titles when they beat Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik 6-2, 6-3 on Friday to win the French Open.

The Americans wrapped up victory in 73 minutes to win their 12th grand slam title together, adding the trophy to the ones they won at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year and at the Australian Open in January.

The top seeds are only the third doubles partnership in the history of the women's game to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time.

They will become the top-ranked doubles pairing Monday, making Serena Williams only the sixth woman to hold top spot in the singles and doubles at the same time.