Henin to Play Mauresmo in Dubai Tennis Championships Fin - 網球

http://www.dubaitennischampionships.com/2/news/2007/news30.1.asp

Henin to Play Mauresmo in Dubai Tennis Championships Final
Dubai, UAE, February 23rd, 2007: Defending champion Justine Henin will face
second seed Amelie Mauresmo in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships
after defeating third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 1-6 6-4 6-0.

Mauresmo advanced to the final after fifth seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic
injured her ankle when down 2-5 in the first set and retired after losing the
next game.

Top seeded Henin had beaten Kuznetsova 12 times in their 13 previous
meetings, and had won 14 of 14 matches in Dubai. But she began nervously
against the Russian, dropping her serve in the second game and then
double-faulting to surrender it again at 4-1.

Kuznetsova was playing aggressively, often moving to the net, and that
pressure forced Henin into a succession of errors. But once the second set
got underway Henin slowly began to work her way into the match.

She broke to lead 3-1, but then allowed her opponent to break back at 4-2.
Once Kuznetsova held for 4-4 it seemed that Henin’s reign might be over, but
the plucky Belgian broke back at 5-4 to level the match on her fourth set
point.

The deciding set was over swiftly, as Henin finally found top gear against
her tiring opponent.

“I knew she had a lot of motivation and I could feel that she was really on
the court to give me a hard time,” said Henin of her difficult start. “I
could feel it in the first set. She was hitting the ball very hard, and she
was in the court and I was too far from my baseline.

“Then slowly, in the second set, things were changing and that allowed me to
come back into the match. I was leading 4-1 and she came back to 4-4, but I
had a better attitude at that point and I just kept fighting.

“From 4-4 to the end of the match it was my best tennis, no more mistakes, I
just went for the winners, good choices, and I’m happy the way the match
ended for sure.”

Mauresmo was firmly in charge before play was first interrupted by a cat on
the court, and then by the umpire becoming confused with the score as
Mauresmo led 4-2. Mauresmo demanded that tournament referee Alan Mills came
to the court, and the score was corrected from 30-30 to 40-15 in her favour.

In the next game, Jankovic injured her left ankle, and although she tried to
continue after treatment she retired after dropping the game and the set.

“I was so scared I was shaking after it happened,” said Jankovic. “I was
hitting a backhand and I twisted it and it was a sharp pain. It was hurting
really bad and right away it was swollen. It was so painful I couldn’t serve
or land on my foot or continue to play. It’s very disappointing for me and I
hope the injury is not severe.”

Mauresmo had dropped her serve in the opening game, but recovered well and
considered she was doing enough to win before Jankovic retired.

“I thought I was controlling the match pretty well, making her move around a
lot and not letting her get inside the baseline and dictate the way she likes
to do,” said Mauresmo. “I was pretty satisfied about that.”

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and
takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Play in the WTA Tour event takes place at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from 19th
to 24th February, and continues from 26th February to 3rd March with the ATP
event featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Marcos Baghdatis.

For further information: John Rynehart, Promoseven Sports Marketing,
(T) +9714 3210008; (M) +971 50 55 96795; [email protected]

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