Henin-Hardenne Captures Third Career Dubai Title - 網球

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February 25, 2006
Henin-Hardenne Captures Third Career Dubai Title

DUBAI, U.A.E. - Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne continued her unbeaten run in
Dubai, winning her third title in the Middle East with an impressive finals
display Saturday against Russian Maria Sharapova.

No.4-seeded Henin-Hardenne, having reached the finals of all three events
she's contested in 2006 - winning Sydney and retiring during the Australian
Open final with stomach pain - recovered from a 5-3 first-set deficit to
defeat No.3-seeded Sharapova, 75 62, in one hour, 44 minutes.

"I'm very happy with the ending," said Henin-Hardenne, also the Dubai
champion in 2003 and 2004, having missed last year's event with a right knee
injury. "It was a tough week for me, even though I won every match in two
sets. It was hard with the rain too, trying to remain patient and still focus
on the matches. This victory has given me a lot of confidence, for sure."

Played before a standing-room only crowd, the final, between two former world
No.1s (there were five former No.1s in the quarterfinals), was a high-quality
affair, with Henin-Hardenne showing marginally more versatility as she broke
Sharapova's booming serve twice in a row to take the first set.

Games went with serve through the first four games of the second set before
Henin-Hardenne again won four straight games to claim her 25th career Sony
Ericsson WTA Tour singles title.

"There was a very high quality in the first set. Maria was playing very
aggressively and I think she brought out the best in me. I had to raise my
level if I wanted to stay with her. They key was patience in the long
rallies, and being aggressive as soon as I got the right ball.

"I fought very hard and I'm proud of the fact that I showed I'm a real
competitor and stayed positive the whole time. This match was terrific for
women's tennis, I think. The public was fantastic."

It was an encouraging result for the 23-year-old Henin-Hardenne, who was
making her first tournament appearance since her Australian Open retirement.

"I was feeling very down after the Australian Open final, but overall my
beginning of the year has been almost perfect when I think where I was a few
months ago," added Henin-Hardenne, who improves to 4-1 lifetime against
Sharapova.

With the win, world No.5 Henin-Hardenne will switch places on the rankings
with No.4 Sharapova and become the 14th woman to reach the $10-million
barrier in career earnings. Runner-up Sharapova has become the 29th woman to
pass the $5-million mark.

"I'm disappointed with today, but Justine was simply better," noted
Sharapova, who like Henin-Hardenne had to win a rain-delayed quarterfinal and
a semifinal on Friday to reach the championship match. "I played very well
until 5-3, didn't take my chances and I missed a few close calls. Overall I'm
happy with my week though, I surpassed myself I think yesterday beating
Hingis (in the quarterfinals) and Davenport (semifinals) on the same day and
played well the whole time."

For winning the title, Henin-Hardenne takes home $159,000, while runner-up
Sharapova takes home $84,500. Losing quarterfinalist Amelie Mauresmo missed
out on a chance to regain the world No.1 ranking from Kim Clijsters. The
Frenchwoman, who would have returned to the top spot had she won the title,
has another chance next week in Doha. Again, Australian Open champion
Mauresmo has to win the title to become No.1.

The doubles title was won by Kveta Peschke and Francesca Schiavone, who won
their sixth and fourth career doubles titles respectively. The unseeded duo
defeated fellow non-seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova in the final,
36 76(1) 63, to collect their first title as a team.


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