Henin wins Belgian Battle - 網球

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Henin wins Belgian Battle

Henin wins Belgian BattleJustine Henin-Hardenne moved into her second career
Wimbledon final with a 6-4 7-6(4) win over compatriot Kim Clijsters on
Thursday. The French Open champion battle back from a break down in both sets
to ease into the final where she will play the winner of Maria Sharapova and
Amelie Mauresmo.

In the end it was the superior fighting qualities of the 2001 runner-up that
shone through, along with her superior tactics on the Wimbledon grass and
graceful backhand.

Clijsters simply could not cope with her opponent taking the initiative by
coming forward wherever possible, taking away the time needed to set up her
powerful baseline game.

SLEEPY START

With the Wimbledon crowd still wiping the sleep out of their eyes, the
Belgians started their match with a low profile.

And the game matched the attitude of the spectators until it suddenly burst
into life in the seventh game.

Justine found herself broken thanks to a double fault and a loose forehand
into the net and suddenly the crowd were involved as the spectacle heated up
as the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds.

But the French Open champion is determined to win the one major title to have
so far eluded her and immediately broke back as her opponent refused to move
away from the baseline as the situation dictated.

With that, the French Open champion moved into overdrive, running away with
the set by breaking the second seed once again, this time to love, as the
2005 U.S. open champion offered a limp end to the set.

DEJA VU

The second set once again started with Kim on the offensive, keeping a good
depth from the baseline and fending off Justine, earning a break in the third
game thanks to yet another double fault, this time on break point, from Henin.

However, Clijsters yet again was unable to hold on to her advantage as her
game disintegrated to allow Henin back on level terms at 3-3.

The pair then traded blows as the second set moved inexorably toward a
tie-break.

In the breaker Henin was able to move her game up a gear at just the right
moment, moving 6-3 ahead before a trademark cross-court backhand closed out
the match, 7-4 in the tie-break.

Justine deservedly through, but with her serve still misfiring she knows she
still has some work to do between now and the final on Saturday.

--
Size doesn't matter.
--- Justine Henin-Hardenne

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