Defending Champion Fends Off Inspired Challenge - 網球

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/newsroom/?contentid=485

June 1, 2006
Defending Champion Fends Off Inspired Challenge

PARIS, France - Not playing her best tennis and facing an inspired young
opponent, two-time former Roland Garros champion Justine Henin-Hardenne
fought her way out of trouble like she has done so many times in the past,
coming back from the brink of losing the second set to close Anastasiya
Yakimova out in straight sets, 62 75.

Henin-Hardenne, seeded No.5, felt the pressure from the big-hitting Yakimova
in the opening set and stepped her game up accordingly on the big points,
converting three of five break opportunities en route to clinching the first
set in 43 minutes.

The second set was much closer, with the unseeded, Belarussian teen using her
big groundstrokes to dictate play for the most part. In the most critical
stage of the match, she pounded her way to a 40-0, triple set point lead
serving at 5-4. But the defending champion refused to fold, reeling off three
straight points and eventually three straight games, tracking down a furious
backhand down-the-line on match point before the youngster sent a forehand
well beyond the baseline to end the one-hour, 39-minute encounter.

"When I was under pressure, I played my best tennis," Henin-Hardenne said. "I
wasn't in my best day but it's good to win that way. On the crucial points I
played very well. It's disappointing I couldn't do it during the whole match,
but it's in this kind of day that you have to win even if you're not playing
your best tennis."

Although she has often been viewed in recent years as the toughest player on
clay, Henin-Hardenne has had a hard time matching her 2005 run on the surface
this season. After going 24-0 last year, capturing titles at Charleston,
Warsaw, Berlin and here, the Belgian has not won a title on the surface
coming in, falling in the Charleston semifinals and finishing runner-up at
Berlin. But the terre battue of Roland Garros has always brought out her best
and she doesn't seem concerned about form coming in.

"In Charleston and Berlin I could have gone all the way but wasn't daring
enough in both cases. I hope if things turn the same way here, I'll know how
to react. But I suppose that was good preparation for clay. I had good and
bad matches.

"As far as I'm concerned, being a favorite is not something that really
worries me. Very often, favorites are created just to disappear and to be
beaten."

Aside from winning two of four majors here, Roland Garros has been a special
venue for Henin-Hardenne in that she celebrates her birthday on June 1st, a
date always contained in the tournament fortnight. But the Belgian says she
is mostly business when it comes to her special day, going through post-match
routines with her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, before celebrating with husband
Pierre-Yves.

"I will be criticized before we celebrate my birthday. I hope we do that
before, and then we can celebrate the birthday. Maybe later on in June we
might do something. We're going to eat together tonight, Pierre-Yves and some
friends. We'll do it very quietly, as we do every year. But June is always a
special month."

Awaiting Henin-Hardenne in the third round will be Tathiana Garbin. Garbin
could prove to be a very dangerous opponent, having won two of their three
prior encounters. The Italian pulled off major upsets over the Belgian at the
Tier I event in Miami in 2001 and here at Roland Garros in 2004. Both wins
came in straight sets. Henin-Hardenne's only win came at Amelia Island in
2002.

"Garbin, yes, it's true, I've had problems playing her, not only here. But
it's a new place, a new tournament, a new situation, and I hope the weather
conditions are going to be better. I just want to keep going. I'm going to
try and improve what didn't work today. I don't want to get excited about
that beforehand."

Thursday was a rainy day at Roland Garros. Former Roland Garros champion
Anastasia Myskina was among the winners, while several matches were either
suspended or cancelled. Read more about those here.

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下一輪對手是04年大敗冷門擊敗juju的 Garbin
且對戰記錄是1:2的落後....
加油阿

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