Doha 07 - Lioness of the Desert - 網球

http://www.justine-henin.be/public/index.asp?lang=en

Doha 07 - Lioness of the Desert
28/02/2007:

Justine the Belgian lioness roared to victory against Australia's favorite
daughter Alicia Molik 6-2 7-6(11-9) on late Wednesday afternoon in Doha. The
first set was a breeze for Justine, but the second set turned out to be
competative with an entertaining tiebreaker in which the lioness saved two
set points. Justine will next play Patty Schynder in the quarterfinals on
Thursday, and have a golden opportunity to even the score from a defeat in
their previous meeting at Charleston last year.

It was Justine's third tournament, eighth match of the season, and her first
in Doha since 2004. A bit of breeze swept the venue as two 1-handed backhand
players duelled on center court. Alicia is also on a bit of a personal
comeback to the tour, and trying to rediscover form. Justine easily dominated
Alicia with solid returns for breakpoints. It was 6-2 in 30 minutes for JH.

Molik found strong serves in the second set, and struck the ball hard with
effortless ease as Justine threw in casual errors. More Aussie solid
attacking play pushed Justine to more errors, but the dashing Belgian caught
up quickly when she fell two games behind. An entertaining tiebreaker of 11
points to 9 was won by Justine in her third match point.

Final score: 6-2 7-6(9) in 1 hour and 27 minutes.

Congratulations to Justine for a nomination in this year's Laureus award for
Sportswoman of the year. The other contenders are Maria Sharapova, Amelie
Mauresmo, Russian pole- vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, Swedish heptathlete
Carolina Kluft and French swimmer Laure Manaudou.

--