Serena Williams continues return after two months out to make final in Rome

American heading into defence of French Open in fine form as she prepares to face Madison Keys in Rome finale

Serena Williams dropped just five games as she overcame Irina-Camelia Begu in the last four of the Rome Masters

Serena Williams will head for the French Open next week with only one clay-court tournament under her belt, but on current evidence that could be enough for the world No 1 as she attempts to retain her title at Roland Garros. While her closest rivals struggle for any consistency, Williams has reached the final here in her first tournament appearance for two months.

Williams, who will meet Madison Keys on Sunday in an all-American final, last competed in Miami, where she was beaten by Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round. She pulled out of last week’s tournament in Madrid with flu but has looked in good shape here, with Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu her latest victim.

The world No 1 won their semi-final 6-4, 6-1, while Keys beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, 7-6, 6-4. Both matches were interrupted by rain on a largely damp and drab day in the Italian capital.

Having won three titles at the Foro Italico (in 2002, 2013 and 2014) and reached the semi-final or better on eight occasions, Williams has a fine record here. She has won 42 matches at the tournament, which was more than double the total of wins enjoyed here by the three other semi-finalists.

Nevertheless, Williams’ form has been a concern ever since last year’s US Open, where she was beaten by Roberta Vinci when only two wins away from completing a pure Grand Slam. This is the first time since 1998 that she has contested this tournament without already having a won a title in the season to date.

Begu, who was playing here for only the second time, has been enjoying a good clay-court season and started confidently enough. However, the world No 35 was made to regret not taking her chances when Williams held serve at 1-1 from 0-40 down.

There were brief interruptions for rain, but once Williams had got in front she rarely looked like being caught. The American completed her victory after an hour and 26 minutes with a winning volley.

Keys, who had failed to progress beyond the second round on both her previous appearances here, is through to her first final for more than a year. The 21-year-old American has a game better suited to quicker surfaces and lost to lower-ranked opponents in both her previous clay-court tournaments this year, but has played well this week.

The first set, which featured just one break of serve apiece, ended in a tie-break which Keys won 7-5. The world No 24 made the only break of the second set at 3-3 and was within two points of victory at 5-4 and 30-15 when rain started to fall again.

The match was halted for six minutes, but when they resumed Keys won two of the next three points with service winners to complete victory after an hour and 42 minutes. Eight double faults had not helped Muguruza’s cause.