Henin-Hardenne confirms Dubai trip - 網球

http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/wta-dubai/2006/sport_sto836315.shtml

Henin-Hardenne confirms Dubai trip

Eurosport - 18/02/2006

Justine Henin-Hardenne confirmed on Saturday that she will play at next
week's million-dollar Dubai Duty Free Open. It will be the Belgian's first
tournament since injury forced her to retire during last month's Australian
Open final.

There was mixed news for the organisers, however, as the Williams sisters,
Venus and Serena, confirmed their withdrawal along with Swiss world number
nine Patty Schnyder.

All three players are injured.

The tournament, which starts on Monday, has nevertheless been boosted by the
late inclusions of Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo and former world
number one Martina Hingis.

Henin-Hardenne, the world number five, was forced to retire with a stomach
injury against France's Mauresmo in the second set of the final in Melbourne.

"I am not 100 percent fit just yet, with a shoulder injury still lingering,
but I'll have four to five days training and time to acclimatise with the
mild temperatures," the Belgian said on her website.

Seeded three, Henin-Hardenne, won the Dubai tournament in 2003 and 2004 and
was handed a bye in the first round during Saturday's draw. Prior to her
Melbourne disappointment, the Belgian started the year with a win in Sydney.

The other leading three players in action - top seed Mauresmo, defending
champion Lindsay Davenport and Russia's Maria Sharapova - were also given
byes to the second round.

Wild card Hingis was not given that luxury and must continue her return after
retirement against India's Sania Mirza who is ranked ten places above the
'Swiss Miss'.

Another interesting tie will be fifth seed Nadia Petrova, knocked out by
Mauresmo in the semi-finals of the Diamond Games in Antwerp on Saturday,
against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.



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