She lost to Maria Sharapova in 2014.
But balance was restored as Sevastova quickly became frustrated with things as Halep settled, with Halep looking solid behind her first serve, the Latvian less so. Can Mladenovic make it three out of three? or will Halep resume normality?
When the key moments came, Halep seems more prepared.
The match looked to be a quick affair once Halep won six straight games to take the first and lead in the second amid back problems for Mladenovic, but the emerging French star found a comfort zone and came back to force a decisive set.
Injecting more variety into her game, she had Halep scrambling forward and back, left and right as Sevastova swiftly jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Mladenovic, ranked 17 in the world, eased into the final with a 6-4, 7-6 straight sets win. As soon as she had it was plain sailing for the defending champion.
Halep has secured a Euro 511,740 check and 650 ATP points for reaching the final.
"This is my first singles final here, I'm very happy", Mladenovic said. It was something knew and I didn't know how to manage it. I couldn't breathe too easy.
Furthermore, should Halep win this tournament, she will join Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova as the only three players to win this tournament twice. I don't want to remember the feeling that I had in the court.
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In a step from the finals in the tournament in Madrid, the 25-year-old Romanian Simone Halep will argue for a ticket to the final with 27-year-old Anastasia Sevastova from Latvia.
An incredible drop shot from Mladenovic opened up two set points at 6-4 and she evened the match with a booming forehand down the line.
The second set was just as intense as after an exchange of early breaks, serve was dominant all the way to a tie-break.
And it was she who made the flawless start in a topsy-turvy opening set by jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
"I feel like home here in Madrid, so thank you guys for making me feel great on this court". She is developing her game in that way, that style, because she's not that tall, not that powerful. "She played really well today".
But Nastase has been banned from the French Open and Wimbledon after he was ejected from Romania's Fed Cup clash with Great Britain last month for a series of foul-mouthed rants directed at British captain Anne Keothavong and number one Johanna Konta, as well as umpires and members of the press.
"I'm expecting a tough match". Elena Vesnina and Johanna Konta both won their first Premier Mandatory titles against players who already have won them in the past.
From Madrid to Madrid, going through Bucarest and Montreal.
"I can just be proud out there from both of us what we showed. I've got to give credit to Simona for an incredible game today".
