Tennis ace Henin out to make it third-time lucky in Stut - 網球

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Tennis ace Henin out to make it third-time lucky in Stuttgart
18 hours ago

STUTTGART, Germany (AFP) — World number one Justine Henin said on Monday she
was hoping to make it third-time lucky at Stuttgart's WTA tournament this
week after twice losing finals on previous visits here.

The 25-year-old is the favourite in Stuttgart and enjoying a superb season
with a convincing 50-4 win-loss record on her way to seven more career titles
including two Grand Slams.

Wins at both Roland Garros and the US Open have cemented her place at the top
of the WTA Tour rankings.

But Henin is yet to win the Stuttgart event having twice been the runner-up
when the tournament was previously played at the south German town of
Filderstadt.

The tournament moved to the state-of-the-art Porsche Arena stadium in
Stuttgart last year and Henin is hoping to make it third-time lucky in
Sunday's final.

"It's good to be back, I just want to take care of myself and keep playing
well," said the Belgian, with the prize of a brand new Porsche at stake for
the winner.

"Having been beaten in the final twice, I will never now win a final at
Filderstadt (having lost to Lindsay Davenport in 2001 and Kim Clijsters in
2003).

"But I enjoy playing here, I like playing indoors, it gives me a lot of
confidence."

Henin has a bye into the second-round where she will face Russian Dinara
Safina after she beat Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 late on
Monday evening.

Someone pleased to avoid Henin until, potentially, the final is Serena
Williams after the American lost out to the Belgian at the quarter-final
stage of Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open this year.

The pair are on separate sides of the draw, but former world number one
Williams is now seventh in the world and the sixth seed is looking to do well
after a thumb injury she picked up in the US Open.

"I am still playing a long way from my best level," said the 26-year-old. "I
was disappointed with the way things went at the US Open and I am just
pleased to be in Germany with the chance to do well this week."

Williams will face Russian Elena Bovina in the first round. Earlier in the
day, France's Tatiana Golovin was the first player into the second round
after her 6-1, 6-1 defeat of Germany's Martina Muller.

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