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Clijsters triumphs in gritty battle with Rubin
Los Angeles, Nov 09: Wins for Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne at WTA Championships.
Los Angeles, Nov 09: Wins for Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne at WTA Championships.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium earned a spot in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships in Los Angeles, California, United States while compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame illness to win her opening match on Thursday (November 6). Belgium's world number one Clijsters beat American Chanda Rubin 6-4 6-4 in her Red Group round robin match and Henin saw off Russian Anastasia Myskina 7-5 5-7 7-5 in two hours and 32 minutes in Black Group. Clijsters and Rubin engaged in a fierce battle from inside the baseline but the 20-year-old Belgian stepped up her play late in both sets and won the contest when Rubin erred on a crosscourt backhand. Henin-Hardenne overcame a sinus infection and a 5-2 deficit in the first set to remain on course to retake the world number one spot from Clijsters.
Henin-Hardenne took an injury time out and was treated by a WTA trainer for the infection whilst trailing in the first set.
After having her blood pressure and heart rate measured, Henin quickly regained her composure and reeled off five straight games to take the set.
"My heart rate was so high and it made me nervous," said Henin, who has been taking antibiotics since Monday. Henin found more power on her forehand side and intelligently mixed up her shots but showed little depth with her normally brutish backhand and often found herself retrieving in rallies.
Myskina took the second set and was two points from winning the match at 5-4 but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
Henin then broke the Russian to 6-5 when Myskina dumped a forehand into the net. The French and U.S. Open champion won the contest with a crushing a backhand crosscourt shot.
"I came though, that's the most important thing. I played with my heart because it wasn't easy," said Henin, who faces Jennifer Capriati on Friday (November 7) in a rematch of their spectacular U.S. Open semi-final.
French fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo evened her record in Red Group to 1-1 with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian Elena Dementieva.
Mauresmo must defeat Clijsters on Friday to qualify for the semi-finals. Rubin also has a chance of making the semi-finals if she beats Dementieva.
Results: Round-Robin Singles Red Group: 1-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat 8-Chanda Rubin (U.S.) 6-4 6-4 4-Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat 6-Elena Dementieva (Russia) 6-3 6-2
Black Group: 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) beat 5-Anastasia Myskina (Russia) 7-5 5-7 7-5
Bureau Report
Defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium earned a spot in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships in Los Angeles, California, United States while compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame illness to win her opening match on Thursday (November 6). Belgium's world number one Clijsters beat American Chanda Rubin 6-4 6-4 in her Red Group round robin match and Henin saw off Russian Anastasia Myskina 7-5 5-7 7-5 in two hours and 32 minutes in Black Group. Clijsters and Rubin engaged in a fierce battle from inside the baseline but the 20-year-old Belgian stepped up her play late in both sets and won the contest when Rubin erred on a crosscourt backhand. Henin-Hardenne overcame a sinus infection and a 5-2 deficit in the first set to remain on course to retake the world number one spot from Clijsters.
Henin-Hardenne took an injury time out and was treated by a WTA trainer for the infection whilst trailing in the first set.
After having her blood pressure and heart rate measured, Henin quickly regained her composure and reeled off five straight games to take the set.
"My heart rate was so high and it made me nervous," said Henin, who has been taking antibiotics since Monday. Henin found more power on her forehand side and intelligently mixed up her shots but showed little depth with her normally brutish backhand and often found herself retrieving in rallies.
Myskina took the second set and was two points from winning the match at 5-4 but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
Henin then broke the Russian to 6-5 when Myskina dumped a forehand into the net. The French and U.S. Open champion won the contest with a crushing a backhand crosscourt shot.
"I came though, that's the most important thing. I played with my heart because it wasn't easy," said Henin, who faces Jennifer Capriati on Friday (November 7) in a rematch of their spectacular U.S. Open semi-final.
French fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo evened her record in Red Group to 1-1 with a 6-3 6-2 win over Russian Elena Dementieva.
Mauresmo must defeat Clijsters on Friday to qualify for the semi-finals. Rubin also has a chance of making the semi-finals if she beats Dementieva.
Results: Round-Robin Singles Red Group: 1-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat 8-Chanda Rubin (U.S.) 6-4 6-4 4-Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat 6-Elena Dementieva (Russia) 6-3 6-2
Black Group: 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) beat 5-Anastasia Myskina (Russia) 7-5 5-7 7-5
Bureau Report