Henin-Hardenne stuns Sharapova, clinches No. 1 - 網球

Henin-Hardenne stuns Sharapova, clinches No. 1
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2657708

MADRID, Spain -- Justine Henin-Hardenne will finish the year as the
top-ranked player in women's tennis after beating Maria Sharapova 6-2, 7-5
(5) Saturday in the semifinals of the WTA Championships.

Said a disappointed Maria Sharapova: "I just didn't feel like myself
today."Henin-Hardenne beat the Russian for the third time in four meetings
this year -- the Belgian's only loss coming in the U.S. Open final.

The victory clinched Henin-Hardenne's second year-end No. 1 ranking. Amelie
Mauresmo will finish her 34 consecutive weeks as No. 1 at the end of the
tournament.

"It's amazing. I'm very happy," Henin-Hardenne said. "I'm very happy with the
way I handled the pressure today. The season is not over yet. I'm No. 1 but I
still want to win this tournament."

Henin-Hardenne will face either defending champion Mauresmo or two-time
winner Kim Clijsters, who were to play later Saturday in the other semifinal
match.

Henin-Hardenne can clinch a tour-high sixth title of 2006 in Madrid after
missing nearly two months while recovering from a muscle tear in her right
knee.

The Belgian, who had seven aces, had three service breaks in the first set
while forcing Sharapova into 14 unforced errors.

Henin-Hardenne converted her fourth break point in the eighth game of the
second set to take a 5-3 lead when Sharapova hit a forehand into the net.

Sharapova rallied with her first break of the second set when Henin-Hardenne
sent a forehand into the net. Both players then held serve to force the
tiebreaker.

The Russian saved one match point at 6-4 in the tiebreaker, but
Henin-Hardenne converted on her second try to give Sharapova only her second
loss in 11 tiebreakers this year.

"I just didn't feel like myself today," Sharapova said. "I felt a little
sluggish. I didn't feel like I was concentrating.

"You hope to find a way to break through that, and I felt like I was getting
there at the end of the match, but I just couldn't put two or three good
points together."

Sharapova finished the season with a career-high five titles, including her
second Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

"I've had an amazing year, a very successful year, and I'll finish the
highest I have in my career," Sharapova said. "You always think about what
went wrong and what could have gone better, but I'm happy with the way I
played and just look forward to what I can improve for next year."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press


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