Henin, Jankovic, Ivanovic, Sharapova in French semifinal - 網球

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Henin, Jankovic, Ivanovic, Sharapova in French semifinals
Associated Press Updated: June 5, 2007, 10:29 AM ET
PARIS -- The jeers were brief in the French Open rematch between Serena
Williams and Justine Henin. The result was the same.

Henin won again.

Keeping Williams on the move with her versatile shotmaking, three-time
champion Henin advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory Tuesday.

Justine Henin vs. Serena Williams
Head-to-head matches on clay Event Winner Score
'07 French Henin 6-4, 6-3
'03 French Henin 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
'03 Charleston Henin 6-3, 6-4
'02 Rome Williams 7-6 (6), 6-4
'02 Berlin Henin 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5)

The meeting was their first at Roland Garros since 2003, when a semifinal
victory by Henin included boos for Williams and left a bitter aftertaste on
both sides.

The lone jeers this time came when a frustrated Williams slammed her racket
to the clay when she lost serve in the opening game of the second set. The
boos quickly subsided, and while the crowd favored the French-speaking Henin,
they applauded Williams when she left the court after the match.

There was no evident acrimony between the players, either. While Williams
offered only a perfunctory handshake following their match four years ago,
this time when she dumped a forehand in the net on match point, she smiled as
she and Henin engaged in a genial exchange at the net.

But in her postmatch news conference, Williams was reluctant to credit Henin.

"Nothing worked today. Sometimes you just have days like that," Williams
said. "All she had to do was show up."

Williams, who had won her past 11 Grand Slam matches, was the lone remaining
American in men's or women's singles.

Henin extended her Open era record winning streak at Roland Garros to 31
consecutive sets. The Belgian is two rounds from becoming the first woman to
win three consecutive French Open titles since Monica Seles in 1990-92.

Henin's opponent Thursday will be No. 4-seeded Jelena Jankovic, who beat No.
6 Nicole Vaidisova 6-3, 7-5.

The other semifinal will be between No. 2 Maria Sharapova and No. 7 Ana
Ivanovic. Sharapova beat No. 9 Anna Chakvetadze 6-3, 6-4, and Ivanovic
defeated 2006 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0, 3-6, 6-1.

For Sharapova, Ivanovic and Jankovic, it's their best showing at the French
Open. Ivanovic is a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist.

"I now feel old on the circuit," said the 25-year-old Henin. "Newcomers are
coming up. Women's tennis keeps getting better."

Williams revived her career by winning the Australian Open in January for her
eighth Grand Slam title, and she was considered perhaps Henin's most
formidable hurdle at Roland Garros.

But, unlike other players, Henin was able to draw on a wide variety of shots
to keep Williams off balance. Henin's backhand is picturesque, but she did
considerable damage with her forehand, hitting aggressively and deep to
control rallies.

The only break in the opening set came in the first game. Williams popped up
a volley on break point, and Henin sprinted across the court at an angle to
whack a winner.

The Belgian held her first six service games, facing only one break point and
shouting "Allez!" when she won important points.

When Williams dumped a drop shot into the net to again lose serve and fall
behind 1-0 in the second set, she slammed her racket, then won the next six
points. She broke back with the help of two double faults by Henin and took a
2-1 lead.

It didn't last long. Williams lost her next service game, largely because of
three backhand errors, and Henin calmly won eight of the final nine points to
close out the victory.

"I managed to hold my serve in the important moments," Henin said. "I managed
to impose my game."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press



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