World's Top 2 Advance, Will Face Serbians in Semifinals - 網球

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Newsroom June 5, 2007
World's Top 2 Advance, Will Face Serbians in Semifinals

PARIS, France - All eyes were on the duel between Justine Henin and Serena
Williams, and like she has done so many times at Roland Garros it was Henin
who stepped up as the semifinal line-up was determined at the year's second
Grand Slam on Tuesday.

From start to finish, top seed and two-time defending champ Henin was the
aggressor against the No.8-seeded Williams, converting on all four of her
break points during a 64 63 victory, her record 15th consecutive straight set
win on the terre battue.

"I did everything I could to control the match and that was a good job,"
Henin said. "From the first point until the end, I was very focused. I didn't
let her come back in the match except at the beginning of the second set. I
was also concentrated and pretty aggressive when I had to be. So I thought it
was a good match from my side."

The win was something of a revenge for Henin, whose lone encounter in the
last four years against Williams was a heartbreaking finals loss at Miami two
months ago, where she let go of two match points in the second set of a 06 75
63 defeat.

"I knew that mentally she's a real fighter, and that she can come back during
the match any time," Henin continued. "And I didn't want this today, because
I did my mistake three months ago in Miami."

Williams did a solid job of staying toe-to-toe with one of the game's
all-time clay court greats; but she only gave herself two break chances,
converting on one.

"Even the first set, I saw that she won 30 points and I won 29 on the stats,
but I didn't win the right ones," Williams said. "I didn't take my
opportunities; I didn't do anything I was supposed to like move up and the
other things I was supposed to do. I stood back and let her take advantage of
me. And I feel violated."

Henin's closest rival on the rankings, Maria Sharapova, also made it into the
penultimate round, taking out fellow 20-year-old Russian Anna Chakvetadze, 63
64. The No.2 seed improved to 4-0 lifetime against the No.9 seed, a record
that also includes a Grand Slam quarterfinal encounter earlier this year in
Australia.

Having won Wimbledon and US Open titles and been a runner-up in Australia,
the move into the semis was a first at Roland Garros for Sharapova.

"I didn't come off the court and go, 'Wow, I'm in the semifinals,'" she said.
"That wasn't the feeling. I still believed in myself with every round and
every situation that I was in. I know in any tournament that I play, whether
it's on clay or mud or whatever it is, I know what I'm capable of, and I
believe in myself, and that's the most important thing. I wouldn't say I'm
surprised. I'm more proud and excited."

Jankovic, Ivanovic carry Serbia into Roland Garros semifinals

Facing Henin and Sharapova in Thursday's semifinals will be Jelena Jankovic
and Ana Ivanovic, who both notched convincing quarterfinal victories on
Tuesday to reach their career-first Roland Garros semifinals.

No.4 seed Jankovic faced some resistance late in her match against No.6 seed
Nicole Vaidisova but was able to close it out anyway, 63 75. The Serb served
for the match at 5-4 and needed several match points before finally earning
the win.

"I was moving really well today and I tried to defend her balls; that's
mainly what the key of the match was," Jankovic stated. "I was retrieving
well and I'm happy to be in the semifinals for the first time here in Paris."

Having reached the semifinals a year ago, Vaidisova is projected to fall out
of the world's Top 10 when the new rankings are released next Monday.

"I could say I could've gone further, but I am happy the way I played,"
Vaidisova said. "Of course, I'm disappointed I lost. I had my chances. Maybe
it could've been a lot different. But now I'm just looking forward to playing
on grass."

No.7 seed Ivanovic defeated No.3-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 60 36 61, her
second win in a row over the Russian, having beaten her in a thrilling third
set tie-break win in the final of Berlin just a few weeks ago. The Serb was
ecstatic.

"I was enjoying my game; I felt fit and ready to play against the top
players," said Ivanovic on her attitude coming into Roland Garros. "I'm
excited to get so far, and the tournament isn't over. I'll try to play my
best each match I have."

Henin is 5-0 against Jankovic but all five of their matches have gone to
three sets, including clay court encounters earlier this year at Warsaw and
Berlin.

"She has improved so much and she can play very well on clay; I don't know
why I've won all of them in three sets," Henin said. "It's been a long fight
every time."

"I will do my best," Jankovic added. "I have never beaten her before. But I
think I can do it; it's just a matter of staying concentrated and being
mentally tough."

Sharapova and Ivanovic are 1-1; the Russian won at Linz last fall while the
Serb won at Tokyo earlier this year, but that was due to Sharapova's injury
retirement.

"She's had some good success on clay this season so it'll be a very tough
match and one I look forward to," Sharapova said. "I played a good match
against her in Austria last year. Couldn't finish the match with her this
year. But I'm looking forward to this one."

Both semifinals take the court Thursday at Stade Roland Garros.



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