Former French Open winner Mary Pierce has learned to be philosophical after she reached her fifth Grand Slam final and will vie for the French Open title with another former winner Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Pierce, 30, said she had adopted another way of thinking when she comes into this final with all the experience.

"I am different. I'm managing things differently. It's not completely changed radically but with my experience now, I know I have a match tomorrow," said the naturalized Frenchwoman, who became the only French female in the Open era to win the French Open trophy in 2000.

"Maybe in the past I would think about it, but now I know I'm in the final. It's tomorrow. I don't know if I'll be there tomorrow, so I'm trying to take advantage of the day today. I know what I have to do to prepare myself for tomorrow," she said.

"Of course it's the final of the French Open. It's enormous. At the same time, it's not only that which is important in life. It's going to last a short time. After that, life will continue," she said.

Pierce made her way into Saturday's final after following an impressive route. She has recorded victories against Vera Douchevina, Jelena Kostanic, No.9 seed Vera Zvonareva, No.8 Patty Schnyder, world No.1 Lindsay Davenport and Likhovtseva during her two-week run in Paris.

Meanwhile, Pierce will be playing in a Grand Slam final for the fifth time in her career and first since taking the title in Paris five years ago. Pierce also won the title at the Australian Open 10 years ago, while losing in the Roland Garros final in 1994 and also in the championship match at the Aussie Open in 1997.

After Pierce's glorious 2000, she was forced out for almost entire season the following year due to chronic inflammation of the lumbar spine.

She managed to return to Tour in 2002 but was bothered by a series of injuries and could not find her top of form since then.

Source: Xinhua